OLDS, AB (May 1, 2021) – The Brooks Bandits have won nine straight games, thanks to a 6-1 victory on Saturday night over the Olds Grizzlys at the Sportsplex.
Goaltender Jared Whale made 16 saves, with the only goal against coming in the late stages of the 3rd period. With the win, the Bandits have not lost since March 28th, and have taken both games so far this weekend with the Grizzlys, with the finale coming on Sunday.
Highlights presented by Days Inn & Suites Brooks:
Brooks didn’t take long to get on the board. Defenceman Tim Rego (Cornell) turned and fired in a post-and-in shot to give Brooks a 1-0 lead just 65 seconds into the game. The Bandits extended the lead to 2-0 at 14:40 thanks to a powerplay goal from forward Devin Phillips (Holy Cross), who skated from the goal line and stuffed in his 3rd goal of the weekend. Shots were 22-3 Brooks in the 1st.
Despite outshooting the Grizzlys 21-4 in the 2nd period, forward Heath Armstrong was the only one to find the back of the net. The rookie forward fired in a wrist shot from the left circle for his 2nd of the weekend to extend the Bandits lead to 3-0.
Brooks extended their lead to 4-0 at the 5:26 mark of the 3rd as forward Brendan Mairs finished off a Nic DeGraves pass in a wide open net. TJ Hughes (Robert Morris) scored back-to-back goals soon after, both coming on the powerplay. The first came at 6:40, as he redirected the puck into the net to make it 5-0 after Martin stoned Owen Cole on a one-timer. Then at 7:22, Hughes knocked in a puck from the side of the net to make it 6-0.
Olds spoiled Whale’s shutout bid with 78 seconds left in the game, as Dawson Leroux found the top shelf on a shot from the left circle, but that would be it. Final shots were 59-17 Brooks.
The Bandits wrap up the weekend on Sunday when they host the Grizzlys at the Centennial Regional Arena, puck drop is 5:00 pm. Listen on Real Country 105.7 FM and hockeytv.com, spectators are not allowed at AJHL games due to provincial restrictions.