Sherwood Park, AB (November 30, 2024) – Despite an early goal from defenceman Keith McInnis, the Brooks Bandits dropped their third consecutive game, falling 3-1 to the Crusaders on Saturday at the Randy Rosen Rink.
Goaltender Johnny Hicks made 27 saves as the Bandits controlled most of the play having a 35-30 edge in shots but could not beat goaltender James Venne for the equalizer.
In the first, McInnis found the backdoor pass from forward Jack Rosensteel to put the Bandits up 1-0. The Bandits were a wrecking crew in the period with ice breaking hits by Quinn McCall and Davide Patella. Late in the Period, Crusaders forward Malachi McKinnon scored forehand with only 18 seconds left to tie the game 1-1.
The second period had the Crusaders come out on the front foot as Hicks made a big pad stop to keep the game level. The Bandits would then take two penalties in which Hicks single handedly kept the game level with four huge stops. Late in the period, yet again with only 18.1 seconds left, Sherwood Park forward Poul Andersen finished off a shot from Kale Dach that was initially stopped by Hicks but the rebound into the net to give the Crusaders a 2-1 lead in the period.
The third period had the Bandits trailing by one as they looked to get back into the game after the Crusaders had the edge on shots in the second period. Just before the midway point, the Crusaders had a breakaway with Loranger and he rang it off the post. Late in the period, McInnis picked up a hooking penalty that led to a Crusaders penalty shot with 42 seconds left as forward Matthew Frost went five-hole on Hicks and made it a 3-1 game.
The Bandits are back on the road to BC next week as they head to Vernon on Friday and Salmon Arm on Saturday.
