The BCHL Interior Conference Semifinal begins this weekend as the Brooks Bandits will face the Sherwood Park Crusaders in a Battle of Alberta match-up.
The Bandits host the Crusaders for Game 1 and Game 2 this Friday and Saturday at the Centennial Regional Arena.
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It’s the second playoff series between the clubs, and second in back-to-back seasons. The Bandits beat the Crusaders in five games in the 2024 BCHL Alberta Division Final.
The Bandits won a thrilling five games series vs the West Kelowna Warriors in Round One, which saw two games go to overtime. The Crusaders swept the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, and three of their forwards (Jeremy Loranger, Kale Dach and Poul Andersen) are NHL Draft Eligible.
The Bandits split the season series 3-3, and goal scoring was even 18-18.
Schedule
+if necessary
All games @ 7:00 pm
Game 1 @ Brooks – Friday, April 18
Game 2 @ Brooks – Saturday, April 19
Game 3 @ Sherwood Park – Tuesday, April 22
Game 4 @ Sherwood Park – Wednesday, April 23
+ Game 5 @ Brooks – Friday, April 25
+ Game 6 @ Sherwood Park – Sunday, April 27
+ Game 7 @ Brooks – Tuesday, April 29
Season series:
October 27: Sherwood Park 3 @ Brooks 4
Defenceman Matej Teply broke a 3-3 tie with 44 seconds left in the 3rd period as the Bandits won the first meeting of the year 4-3. The Bandits had a 3-0 lead, but the Crusaders rallied in the 3rd to tie the game.
November 23: Sherwood Park 2 @ Brooks 1
Forward Nathan Free scored the only Brooks goal with 2:53 left in the game, but the Crusaders prevailed in a 2-1 win.
November 30: Brooks 1 @ Sherwood Park 3
Defenceman Keith McInnis opened the scoring 3:09 into the game, but once again, the Crusaders held the Bandits to one goal, winning 3-1. McInnis would get a penalty shot late in the game, but couldn’t solve Sherwood Park goaltender James Venne.
December 13: Brooks 4 @ Sherwood Park 2
The Bandits final road game before the Christmas break saw them build a 3-0 lead, with forward AJ Lacroix and defenceman Ethan Beyer scoring. Forward Nick Peluso added a goal in the 3rd period, which was the insurance goal the Bandits needed to win. It was the first time either team scored on the powerplay against each other.
January 11: Brooks 3 @ Sherwood Park 5
The opening 8:20 of the game was bonkers. Forward Davide Patella gave the Bandits a 3-2 lead in a goal filled 1st period, but was given a major penatly for cross-checking, which turned the momentum of the game. The Crusaders powerplay had its biggest night against Brooks, converting three times, and Sherwood Park forward Malachi McKinnon scored a hat trick. It was goaltender Zach Zahara’s second start with the Bandits, making his debut the night before.
March 21: Sherwood Park 3 @ Brooks 5
The Bandits powerplay had a big night, scoring three times, but the game is remembered best for the comeback. Sherwood Park built a 3-1 lead late in the 2nd period, but the 3rd was all Brooks. Forward Luke Bibby scored twice, while McInnis and Patella added two more as the Bandits scored four unanswered in the win. The loss proved costly for the Crusaders in their chances of securing home-ice in Round One.
Brooks record vs Sherwood Park: 3-3
Goal Differential: Goals For 18, Goals Against 18
Regular Season Record
Brooks 40-10-2-2 84 points (2nd Interior Conference)
Sherwood Park 33-20-1 67 points (5th Interior Conference)
Brooks Powerplay 23.6% 7th
Brooks Penalty Kill 87.2% 1st
Sherwood Park Powerplay 32% 1st
Sherwood Park Penalty Kill 77.5% 13th
Brooks Goals For 234 3rd
Brooks Goals Against 123 1st
Sherwood Park Goals For 252 2nd
Sherwood Park Goals Against 199 14th
Brooks Powerplay vs Sherwood Park 4/21
Brooks Penalty Kill vs Sherwood Park 12/17
2025 BCHL Playoff Bracket:
The other Interior Conference Semifinal will see the 1-seed Penticton Vees face the 6-seed Cranbrook Bucks. Penticton swept Okotoks in four games in the Round One, while the Bucks upset the Trail Smoke Eaters in six games. The Vees went 4-0 vs the Bucks in the regular season, however Cranbrook took them to overtime once on January 11th.
In the Coastal Conference, the 1-seed Chilliwack Chiefs survived a series with the Prince George Spruce Kings that went to Game 7. The Chiefs will face the 7-seed Alberni Valley Bulldogs, who upset the Surrey Eagles in five games in Round One. The 3-seed Cowichan Valley Capitals will take on the 4-seed Victoria Grizzlies in an all-Island matchup.
Photo credit: Matt Piotrowski
