The Pre-season schedule is officially behind us.
The Brooks Bandits wrapped up the third and final game of exhibition action and will need to readjust their right foot forward heading into the regular season after falling to the Okotoks Oilers 5-3 on Saturday night.
The Oilers controlled a lead for 55:13 throughout 60 minutes of play, starting with a 2-0 opening period with goals from Ian Kastamo and Domenico Clarizio.
The Bandits countered in the second and momentarily tied the game thanks to Makaio Van Tassel’s and Tomas Marsden’s first goals of the pre-season. The deadlock lasted for just 18 seconds, however, when Oilers’ forward, Jeff Niehaus responded quickly for his second exhibition goal.
Back-to-back powerplay markers extended the Oilers’ lead to 5-3 early in the third period. Ben Deacon scored his second goal in as many games, and just under two-minutes later, Jamie Hikida beat Bandits’ netminder Emile Beaunoyer for the Oilers’ third powerplay goal of the game.
Zachary Deleau, the Bandits’ leading points producer from the backend of their 2025-26 championship roster, cut the lead to 5-3 with his second of the preseason. However, the race against the clock fell short.
The Bandits wrapped up their exhibition slate with a 1-2-0 record and will head into the regular season on Friday, September 18th with the season opener in Blackfalds.
