(Eagle Builders Centre, Blackfalds, AB) November 22, 2024- Nathan Free scored twice in the second period, as the Brooks Bandits won their eighth straight game, defeating the Blackfalds Bulldogs 4-2 on Friday.
Goaltender Johnny Hicks made 20 saves, improving his record to 15-0 on the season, as the Bandits improved to 18-1 on the season, sitting first in the BCHL.
It didn’t take long in the first period for the Bandits to get on the board as forward Nick Peluso scored with a toe-drag move to split the defence to put the Bandits up 1-0 only 52 seconds into the game. The Bandits carried the early momentum with multiple chances in the early stages of the game but Waylon Esche stood strong between the pipes to keep the game close. Just before the midway point in the period,Aidan Souligny took a two and a ten minute boarding penalty as he hit Jace Letourneau in the numbers. After the halfway point, Johnny Hicks made a sliding save on a Bulldogs 2-on-1 to keep them off the scoresheet. Later in the period, Bulldogs forward Alexander Dimitriadis one-timed a snap shot top corner over the glove of Hicks to tie the game late ahead of the break.
In the 2nd period of play, Free had the early chance as he was left alone in front but was unable to pot the five-hole attempt. Just before the midway point in the period, forward Jace Letourneau stole the puck and fed Free, who scored off the rush to give the Bandits a 2-1 lead. Just past the halfway point, the tipped shot by Bulldogs forward Gates Omicioli found a way through the five hole of Hicks as the Bulldogs tied the game again. With just over two minutes remaining in the period, Free fired a shot upstairs over Esche which blew up the water bottle to bring the Bandit’s back in front. Just over one minute later, defenceman Ethan Beyer scored his fourth goal of the season, blasting a AJ Lacroix pass to double up the Bandit’s lead to 4-2.
In the third period, both teams could not find a way through the goaltending of Hicks and Esche as the score stayed 4-2. Final shots in this game was 39 shots for the Bandits and 22 for the Bulldogs.
The Bandits are back home Saturday night, November 23rd to take on the Sherwood Park Crusaders at 7 PM.
