Photo Credit: Matt Piotrowski Photography
Written by: Rory McGouran
Three straight home wins for the Brooks Bandits.
Saturday’s showdown took some massive momentum swings, but the Bandits held on to complete a three-game winning streak with a 6-4 victory over the Sherwood Park Crusaders at the CRA.
In the first reunion since a seven-game Alberta Final playoff series last spring, the Bandits and the Crusaders exchanged blows throughout 60 minutes of play. Sherwood Parks’ Dmitry Pavolv and Finn Kalley both scored powerplay goals which sandwiched Makaio Van Tassel’s 6th of the season for a 2-1 Crusaders lead heading into the second period. Van Tassel extended his goal scoring streak to four games, and his six goals are now tied for the BCHL lead.
Sherwood Park’s struggles this season have mainly appeared in the second period, being outscored 5-0 so far through two games. The Bandits capitalized on this vary asset with four unanswered goals.
Zachary Deleau picked up his second of the season, Tommy Holtby banged home a pair of goals, his first two as a Bandit, and Christophe Lussier added his first career Bandits’ goal to give Brooks a 5-2 lead heading into he third.
The Bandits were hindered by injuries and a weakened bench in their final frame, at one point, with four players in the dressing room. Sherwood Park’s attempt to grind down their opponent nearly came to fruition with back-to-back goals. Dylan Rousselle closed the gap with another powerplay marker and Pavlov netted his second of the game for a 5-4 Bandits lead.
The man advantage was clicking for both sides. Brooks finished 2/4 while the Crusaders answered 3/8.
The game was sealed with Lussier’s empty netter, and while also adding two assists for a four-point night, was named first star of the game.
Yundi Cai secured his first career BCHL victory in net for the Bandits, stopping 34 of 38.
The two teams will reunite once again as the Bandits head on the road to Sherwood Park on Wednesday, September 30th.
