SPRUCE GROVE, AB (March 16, 2024) – Despite a 3rd period comeback that saw a three-goal deficit erased and forcing of overtime, the Brooks Bandits saw their nine-game winning streak snapped following a 6-5 setback on Saturday at the Grant Fuhr Arena.
Down 5-2 in the 3rd, Hunter Wallace, Logan Sawyer and Jack Good, playing in his first game since joining the active roster as a Black Ace, all scored to force the overtime. However, Saints forward Keifer Miller ended the game 6:39 into overtime on a forehand shot.
It was the Bandits (53-5-1 overall, 12-1-1 in BCHL) fourth overtime since joining the BC Hockey League, and seventh overall this season. They are 6-1 in overtimes this year.
The Saints scored first, as forward Alexander Babich tipped a point shot at 8:17. It didn’t take long for the Bandits to tie the game, as forward Ty Mason (Weyburn, SK) sniped a top shelf shot off the rush thanks to a pass from the left wing from Wallace (Oak Lake, MB).
Spruce Grove retook the 2-1 lead 2:07 into the 2nd period, as Miller cleaned up a loose puck off a scramble. The Bandits went on the powerplay, and at 9:13, tied the game 2-2 following an offensive face-off that saw Wallace leave the puck for forward Danylo Korzhyletskyi (Kyiv, UA), who scored forehand. However, with 2:01 left in the frame, Saints forward Stephen Kirkpatrick scored on a breakaway to reclaim the lead.
The Saints made it 4-2 at 2:07, as forward Ashton Hutchinson tipped a point shot, followed by a Kirkpatrick shorthanded goal off the rush at 7:05 that made it 5-2. Brooks battled back, beginning with a powerplay goal from Wallace at 7:40, shooting off a Saint defender from the side of the net and beating Spruce Grove starter Ryan De Kok to cut the deficit to 5-3. Then at 10:07, Sawyer (Orangeville, ON) scored top shelf on a breakaway to make it 5-4. With just over four minutes remaining, Good (Pickering, ON) received a Brock Souch (Edmonton, AB) pass and fired in a forehand shot from the right circle to make it 5-5.
Overtime went 6:39 before Miller ended the game. Goaltender Sam Scopa (Lexington, MA) made 31 saves in the Bandits net.
The Bandits return home for a pair of games next weekend, hosting the Sherwood Park Crusaders on Friday, March 22nd and Spruce Grove Saints on Saturday, March 23rd at the Centennial Regional Arena. Both games are at 7:00 pm.
