BROOKS, AB (March 29, 2024) – For just the second time in team history, the Brooks Bandits have gone undefeated at home following a 3-1 victory over the Spruce Grove Saints on Friday at the Centennial Regional Arena.
Keith McInnis, Nic DeGraves and Parker Lalonde all scored consecutively as the Bandits (56-5-1) erased a 1-0 deficit for their 37th straight Regular Season Home win, dating back to January 25th, 2023. The Bandits went 31-0 at home this year, and 10-0 at home in the BCHL. Brooks has already clinched 1st in the BCHL Alberta Division with three games remaining, all on the road.
Goaltender Johnny Hicks (Kamloops, BC) made 15 saves for his 32nd win of the season. The 2023-24 Bandits join the 2018-19 Bandits as the two teams to go undefeated at home in a Regular Season.
Saints goaltender Alex Scheiwiller was peppered with 19 shots in the 1st, but held down the fort. The Bandits thought they had scored on a shorthanded breakaway from a Jordan Hughesman (Winnipeg, MB) attempt that was banged in by forward Nic DeGraves (Edmonton, AB), but it was waved off. Saints forward Evan Sundar fired in a puck from the left circle to make it 1-0 Saints. It was just the seventh time this year the Bandits trailed heading to the 2nd period.
The Bandits tied the game 6:35 into the 2nd period, as McInnis (Red Deer, AB) tapped in a Lalonde (Aberdeen, SK) pass to tie the game 1-1, with that goal coming at four-on-four. Bandits forward Logan Sawyer (Orangeville, ON) hit a crossbar, as the game remained tied. The Bandits first lead came at 14:20 on the powerplay, as DeGraves (Edmonton, AB) was fed a pass from Mirko Buttazzoni (Langley, BC), who then cut in front of the Saints net and scored to make it 2-1.
Lalonde got the insurance goal, scoring from the left circle after being fed a pass from defenceman Nate Yellowaga (Calgary, AB) at 1:31 of the 3rd to make it 3-1. The Bandits penalty kill was once again a story, going 6/6 in what turned to be a scrappy game. The Saints emptied the net for the extra attacker, but Hicks shut the door. Final shots were 43-16 Brooks.
The Bandits will play three straight away from the CRA to wrap up the Regular Season, starting with a visit to the Okotoks on Sunday, March 31st at 5:30 pm. They visit the Sherwood Park Crusaders on Friday, April 5th and Saturday, April 6th, both start at 7:00 pm.
Team Awards (Handed out prior to the start of the game)
- Most Game Stars – Johnny Hicks
- Fan Favourite – Nathan Free and Ethan Beyer
- Top Rookie – Logan Sawyer
- Most Improved – Nick Peluso
- Hustler – Hunter Wallace and Quinn McCall
- Top Scorer – Mirko Buttazzoni
- Top All Around Forward – Parker Lalonde
- Top Defenceman – Hughie Hooker
- Top Defensive Forward – Nic DeGraves
- Unsung Hero – Jordan Hughesman and Ian Mills
- MVP – Caelan Fitzpatrick
