Okotoks, AB — The Brooks Bandits dropped their first preseason road contest on Sunday, falling 6–2 to the Okotoks Oilers at Viking Rentals Arena. Despite a third goal in two games from forward Connor Paronuzzi, the Bandits couldn’t keep pace with the Oilers’ offensive output.
Paronuzzi struck midway through the first period, tapping in a backdoor pass from Alexei Zhukov at 9:38 to tie the game 1–1. Zackarie Michaud picked up a secondary assist on the goal.
Okotoks wasted no time responding. Michael Kowalski scored at 16:23 to regain the lead, and just 33 seconds later, Harvard commit Michael Mikan added another to give the Oilers a 3–1 edge after twenty minutes.
In the second period, Luke Calabria lit the lamp at 7:05, extending the Okotoks lead to 4–1. Shortly after, Griffin Wright took over between the pipes for Brooks. Brady Engelks beat Wright at 17:36 to make it 5–2.
The Bandits showed some pushback in the third. Jeremiah Mundy, a native of St. Gallen, Switzerland, netted his first goal in a Bandits uniform at 15:06, cutting the deficit to 5–2. With just 27 seconds left in the game, Markus Jacobson, the only non-North American in the Oilers’ lineup, ripped a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle to seal the 6–2 win.
The Bandits won’t have to wait long for a chance at redemption, as they return home to host the Oilers on Friday, September 12 at the Centennial Regional Arena. Puck drop is at 7:00 PM MT.
-30-
