BROOKS, AB (January 16, 2016) – The Brooks Bandits (34-6-2) became just the ninth team in the history of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) to record 16 consecutive wins, downing the Okotoks Oilers (23-19-2) by a 2-0 final score at the Pason Centennial Arena in Okotoks on Saturday night.
Bandit goaltender Garret Hughson (Foremost, AB) stopped all 22 shots he faced for his second shutout since joining Brooks earlier this month, extending his undefeated record to 5-0. The Bandits extended their division lead over Camrose to 9 points, while remaining 3 points back of the Spruce Grove Saints for first overall in the AJHL, with two games in hand.
A scoreless, defensively sound first period saw the Bandits narrowly outshoot Okotoks 9-8. In the second, just 94 seconds in, Bandit forward Logan Mick (Vernon, BC) sped into the offensive zone and dropped off a pass for Landon Welykholowa (Calgary, AB), whose quick snap shot from the top of the left circle beat goalie Riley Morris for the eventual game-winner. It was Welykholowa’s third goal in two games.
In the final minute of the second, after an Oiler tripping penalty, the Bandits won the offensive zone faceoff to Cale Makar (Calgary, AB), whose point shot through traffic was stopped by Morris, but not before a rebound attempt by Derek Lodermeier (Brooklyn Center, MN) was also stopped by Morris, and popped free to Josh McKechney (Calgary, AB) at the side of the net, who jammed the puck in for his league-leading 11th power play goal of the season to make it 2-0.
The Oilers outshot the Bandits 7-4 in the third, including a lengthy empty net power play near the end of the period on which multiple shot blocks by the Bandits and saves through screens by Hughson preserved the shutout and the narrow win.
The game capped off the season series between the two teams, with the Bandits finishing with a 5-1 record against Okotoks. Brooks will host the upcoming RBC Cup host Lloydminster Bobcats on Friday night at the Centennial Regional Arena, with puck drop at 7:00 PM. Tickets are available at tickets.brooksbandits.ca, by phone at (403) 501-0122, or in person at the CRA.
