September 6, 2024 – Nathan Free scored a hat trick, while Mikus Vecvanags made 21 saves as the Brooks Bandits won their 2024 Exhibition Opener, defeating the Sherwood Park Crusaders 3-1 on Friday at the Randy Rosen Rink.
Free (Calgary, AB) completed the natural hat trick with three powerplay goals, in a game that saw the Bandits go on the mad advantage seven times, and successfully kill five of six penalties.
Vecvanags (Riga, LAT) made nine saves in the 1st period, as neither team was able to score.
Sherwood Park opened the scoring 3:21 into the 2nd period, as Poul Andersen banged in a puck on the powerplay. The officials reviewed if Vecvanags’ mask was off, but the goal stood. Brooks would be rewarded with a five-on-three powerplay later in the period, as Free finished off a cross-ice pass and sniped a left circle shot to tie the game 1-1 at 9:14. It didn’t take long for the Bandits to take a 2-1 lead, as Free found the bottom corner of the net on the powerplay. Forward Parker Lalonde (Aberdeen, SK) had assists on both goals.
The insurance goal didn’t come until 17:40 of the 3rd period, as Free fired in a right circle powerplay shot to make it 3-1. Final shots were 28-22 Brooks.
The Bandits continue their Exhibition Schedule on Saturday, September 7th when they host the rival Spruce Grove Saints. Game time is 7:00 pm.
