Brooks, Alberta – After back-to-back losses last weekend, the Brooks Bandits return to the Centennial Regional Arena looking to reset as they host a pair of Interior Conference opponents with the Cranbrook Bucks on Friday and the Trail Smoke Eaters on Saturday.
The Bandits dropped a 5-2 decision to the Blackfalds Bulldogs last Friday, followed by a 7-3 loss to the still-undefeated Sherwood Park Crusaders on Saturday. Despite the final scores, both games remained within reach until the third period.
Against Sherwood Park, the Bandits were tied 2-2 heading into the final frame and nearly took the lead late in the second when Matthew Thomas rang a shot off the crossbar moments after Brooks’ second goal.
“Last weekend was tough. I don’t know what happened,” said Czechian forward Frantisek Albrecht about last weekend’s games versus Blackfalds and Sherwood Park. “The team didn’t play well.”
Albrecht, 20, has two points through the first four games of the season and is searching for his first goal in the BCHL.
They will have a chance to take advantage of a Cranbrook Bucks team that has won just once over their first four games. They’ve been outscored 12-1 over their last two contests and will be heading straight back to Cranbrook after Friday’s game to prepare for their home opener on Saturday against Salmon Arm. Like the Bandits, the Bucks do have a convincing win (beating Vernon 6-1) as well as a shootout loss in their first game of the season in Salmon Arm (5-4).
The Trail Smoke Eaters have been playing fantastic hockey as of late. They currently sit at 4-0 and are atop the BCHL standings. Interestingly, they’ve won three of those four games by just one goal, with their only multi-goal win being a 5-3 result over Chilliwack. Trail will visit Spruce Grove Friday and, like the Bucks, have yet to play at home this season.
Aleksei Zhukov, who is currently riding a two-game goal streak, is optimistic about turning the page from last weekend.
“I think it will be good [this weekend],” said the Yekaterinburg, Russia native. “We fixed a lot of things [this week] in practice.”
Zhukov has four points in four games and only trails Kamyl Chemrouk (five points) for the team lead.
Puck drop for both games will be at 7 MT at the CRA.
