BROOKS, AB (January 1, 2025) – Despite goals from Matej Teply, Davide Patella, and Parker Lalonde, the Brooks Bandits dropped their first game of 2025, falling 4-3 in a shootout to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Wednesday at the Centennial Regional Arena in front of 1,654 fans.
Six minutes into the game, defenceman Matej Teply dangled a defender and backhanded the puck into the net scoring his fourth goal of the season to put the Bandits ahead 1-0. Just after the halfway point in the period, Silverbacks forward Antonio Bevacqua scored on a breakaway to put the game back level 1-1.
In the second period, the shots were almost even as both teams were deadlocked until forward Davide Patella scored his sixth goal of the season, scoring forehand from the left circle to put the Bandits back in the lead.
The third period had chances both ways as the Silverbacks were the first to capitalize with Bevacqua’s second goal of the game to tie it right back up. Just under two minutes later, Parker Lalonde drove down the right side and fired the wrist shot far side on Salmon Arm starter Andrew Ballantyne as it snuck its way under his blocker. However, Silverbacks forward Riley Ashe was able to find a tying goal at the seven minute mark to draw even once again for the Silverbacks.
In overtime, both teams had chances but were unable to score.
In the shootout, Ballantyne stopped all three shots he faced as the Silverbacks took a 4-3 shootout win over the Bandits.
The team heads on the road for a home and home with the Cranbrook Bucks, starting Friday in Cranbrook, followed by a rematch on Saturday in Brooks. Both games are at 7:00 pm.
