Penticton, BC (November 2, 2024) – The Brooks Bandits completed a three-game sweep of the BCHL West Interior Division following a 6-2 win over the Penticton Vees on Saturday at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
The 14-1 Bandits went 6/7 on the penalty kill and 2/4 on the powerplay, while forward Nathan Free recorded a hat-trick, and forward Nick Peluso and defenceman Ethan Beyer had three-point games. The Bandits previously beat the Trail Smoke Eaters 5-2 and West Kelowna Warriors 4-1 on the same trip.
Goaltender Johnny Hicks started, making 22 saves for his 12th win of the season.
In the first period the Bandits were off to a hot start getting an early powerplay opportunity but goaltender Will Ingemann came up big with a few glove stops as the Bandits held the puck in the offensive zone for the full two minutes. Eight minutes into the game, Beyer sent a lead pass to forward Parker Lalonde that sprung him on the breakaway and he fired the wrister past Ingemann to put the Bandits ahead 1-0. Just a few minutes later, Beyer found open space on the left circle on the powerplay and fired the puck through Ingemann to double the Bandits lead to 2-0. The Bandits killed off a 5 on 3 extended penalty.
Just 14 seconds into the 2nd period, forward Nick Peluso picked up the puck and skated the length of the ice on the penalty kill and tucked it in past Ingemann on the breakaway for a Bandits short-handed goal. Just six minutes later on the powerplay, Free scored his ninth goal of the season with a shot off the rush. With just under six minutes remaining in the period, Vees centre Max Heise put the Vees on the board, tipping a shot from the blueline.
The Bandits were quick to respond as Free fired the wrister to the far blocker side from the right circle and scored his 2nd goal of the game to quickly make it 5-1.
Five Minutes into the third period the Vees were crowded around Hick’s goal but were unable to pot the loose puck behind the goaltender. Late in the period, Free fired home his third goal of the game to get the hat-trick and increase the lead to five goals. With only 49 seconds left in the third period, Vees forward Eli McKamey finds the back of the net to score the Vees 2nd goal of the game to cut the lead to 6-2.
The Bandits return home to the Centennial Regional Arena on Friday, November 8th, to take on the Okotoks Oilers. Game time is set for 7:00 pm.
Photo credit: Cherie Morgan
