Brooks, AB (November 29,2024) – A penalty shot goal from Surrey Eagles forward Sihwan Kim broke a 2-2 tie, giving the visitors a 3-2 win over the Brooks Bandits on Teddy Bear Toss night at the Centennial Regional Arena.
Julian Fantino, who joined the Bandits on Friday, scored the Teddy Bear goal in the first minute of the game, while defenceman Keith McInnis scored the Bandits goal. Brooks’ record is 18-3 following the loss.
In the first period, the Eagles got on the board early with a quick backhand goal by Jackson Anderson only 22 seconds in. Just 30 seconds later, Fantino scored his first goal with the Bandits and it was the teddy bear toss goal that sent bears raining down on the CRA ice. Eight minutes later, McInnis banged home a rebound from an Isaac Johnson shot rebound for his 4th goal of the season to put the Bandits ahead 2-1 in the period. McInnis dropped the gloves with Massimo Fazio later in the period.
In the second period there was no scoring as it was a goaltender battle between Johnny Hicks of the Bandits and Aidan Fischer of the Eagles. The Bandits had the edge in shots as they led 13-9 on the period. Fantino was handed a five minute penalty and game misconduct for a boarding penalty late in the period, in which the Bandits would kill off in the third.
In the final period of play, Surrey defenceman Cameron Caron scored on a loose puck after a failed wrap-around attempt to tie the game 2-2. With only 34 seconds left in the game, the Eagles were awarded a penalty shot in which forward Kim fired the puck top corner over the glove of Hicks to win the game late for the Eagles.
The Bandits fall to the Eagles 3-2 at home for their 2nd straight home loss. The team is back on the road looking to bounce back against the Sherwood Park Crusaders at Randy Rosen Arena on Saturday night at 7:00 pm.
