October 5, 2024 – Parker Lalonde scored twice, Johnny Hicks made 24 saves, as the Brooks Bandits earned a 5-2 win over the Blackfalds Bulldogs on Saturday at the Centennial Regional Arena.
Lalonde scored his BCHL-leading 7th and 8th goals of the season, while Nathan Free had a goal and an assist as the Bandits (5-0) stayed undefeated on the season with their fifth straight win in front of 1,240 fans.
In the first period there was no scoring. Hicks made seven stops while both teams took two penalties each, but Bulldogs starter Waylon Esche, including stopping a Davide Patella breakawyay chance.
The Bandits were off to a fiery start in the second period as Free picked up the opening goal of the evening scoring on the power play, assisted by captain Ethan Beyer and Nick Peluso. Near the end of the Period, Parker Lalonde scored his 7th goal of the season on a 3-on-1 break to double the Bandits lead to 2-0.
Only one minute into the third period, Lalonde scored his second of the game to take the Bandits to a 3-0 lead. However, Blackfalds would battle back. Only 50 seconds later Joey Melo scored the Bulldogs first goal of the game and another four minutes later Blackfalds, Tyler Chiovetti, finished a breakaway chance to make it a 3-2 game with still over half the period to go. Blackfalds forward Jack McAra was awarded a penalty shot, but Hicks made the stop to preserve the lead. The Bandits thought forward Nathan Brown had tapped in a goal from the side of the net, but it was waved off.
The Bandits would hold on as Nick Peluso and Davide Patella both scored empty-net goals to bring the Bandits a 5-2 victory over the Bulldogs.
Parker Lalonde was named 1st star of the game.
The Bandits head to Spruce Grove to take on the Saints on Friday, October 11th with a 7:00 pm start time. They return home on Saturday, October 12th to host the Prince George Spruce Kings, game time is also 7:00 pm.
Photo credit: Matt Piotrowski
