SHERWOOD PARK, AB (April 5, 2024) – The 2023-24 Brooks Bandits broke the team record for most wins in a regular season, erasing a 3-2 deficit and beating the Sherwood Park Crusaders 6-3 on Friday at the Randy Rosen Rink for the team’s fifth straight win.
It was the 58th win of the season, beating the previous high of 57 set by the 2018-19 National Champion winning Bandits. Forward Nathan Free reached the 100 career points milestone, while Caelan Fitzpatrick had one goal and two assists. Goaltender Johnny Hicks made 25 saves as the Bandits (58-5-1) improved to 17-1-1 in the BCHL.
Brooks opened the scoring 2:15 into the game on the powerplay, as forward Mirko Buttazzoni (Langley, BC) sniped a left circle shot following a quick offensive zone faceoff win from Caelan Fitzpatrick (Moose Jaw, SK). Forward Nathan Free (Calgary, AB) passed to Buttazzoni, which was Free’s 100th career point. It was Buttazzoni’s 93rd point of the season, tying him in the scoring race with Brendan Ross of the Bulldogs. The Bandits doubled the lead at 15:22, as defenceman Keith McInnis (Red Deer, AB) was fed a pass from behind the net pass from Fitzpatrick and scored from the left circle to make it 2-0. Sherwood Park came close on the powerplay, but Hicks (Kamloops, BC) made a big save on Crusaders forward Ryan Zaremba’s one-timer chance. Crusaders goaltender Erick Roest stopped forward Hunter Wallace on a breakaway as well. Shots were even 11-11 in the period.
The Crusaders scored 2:48 into the 2nd, as Hunter Price banged in a rebound off a Noah Wills shot from the rush. Sherwood Park tied the game 2-2, as Wills slid a puck forehand under Hicks, followed by another goal from Price, scoring on a backhander at 14:21 to make it 3-2.
The Bandits tied the game at 6:08, as Wallace broke past the Crusaders defence and scored backhand after forward Parker Lalonde (Aberdeen, SK) passed off the puck once gaining the zone. Brooks took a 4-3 lead at 8:48, as defenceman Ethan Beyer (Centennial, CO) passed backdoor to Fitzpatrick, who tappedin the go-ahead goal. Brooks got the insurance at 16:37, as forward Jordan Hughesman (Winnipeg, MB) sent a puck out of the defensive zone that forward Logan Sawyer (Orangeville, ON) caught up to and roofed to make it 5-3. Hughesman sealed the deal at 19:55 with an empty net goal to make it 6-3. Final shots were 38-28 Brooks, with the Bandits penalty kill going 7/7.
The Bandits final game of the 2023-24 Regular Season goes on Saturday, April 6th in a rematch with the Crusaders in Sherwood Park. Game time is 7:00 pm, listen to the broadcast on New Country 105.7 FM.
