BROOKS, AB (March 19, 2016) – Landon Welykholowa (Calgary, AB) scored the game-winning goal just under three minutes in, as the Brooks Bandits shut out the Canmore Eagles for the second straight game, downing the visitors 4-0 on Saturday night in Game 2 of the teams’ Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) South Division semi-final series.
The win gives the Bandits a 2-0 series lead as the round will shift to games 3 and 4 in Canmore on Monday and Tuesday nights. Brooks outshot the Eagles 44-14 in the game, holding their opponents to 5 or fewer shots in each of the three periods. The Eagles were still without top forwards Ryley Risling and Matt Forchuk, who were injured.
Welykholowa’s game-winner game 2:47 into the first on a pass from the right wing corner by Ty Mappin. Welykholowa slid his way from the right side of the net to the top of the crease, and before any Eagle could pressure him, roofed a quick shot past goalie Ryan Bontorin for the 1-0 lead.
Though the game was close after 1, much as in Friday’s Game 1, the Bandits seized control in the second period. First, Dylan McCrory (Kirkland, PQ) snuck in his second goal of the series on a sharp-angle shot from the bottom of the right wing circle. Then, on a power play just 1:28 later, Jeff Malott (Waterdown, ON) corralled a puck at the right side of the Eagle net, spun and fired a rocket of a shot past Bontorin for a 3-0 advantage.
Finally, on another power play, Jared Cockrell (Byfield, MA) fed a pass from the high slot to a waiting Ty Mappin (Big Valley, AB) at the left side of the net, who quickly one timed the puck in for his second goal of the series and the 4-0 final score. Both teams were held scoreless in the third, as Bandit goaltender Garret Hughson (Foremost, AB) extended his playoff shutout streak to 120 minutes so far. Brooks was 2 for 4 on the power play and a perfect 2 for 2 on the penalty kill.
Game 3 of the series will begin Monday night at 7:00 at the Canmore Recreation Centre, with pre-game coverage beginning at 6:45 PM on Q105.6.
Shoppers Drug Mart Player of the Game: #22 Parker Foo
Boston Pizza Hardest Working Bandit: #18 Derek Lodermeier