Photo: Matt Piotrowski Photography
Written By: Rory McGouran
The Brooks Bandits dropped back-to-back games for the first time this year following a 7-4 loss to the Okotoks Oilers. This also marked the first regular-season regulation loss to the Oilers in over 5 seasons.
The Bandits opened the scoring with Dmitrijs Dilevka’s second goal in as many games marking the sixth time out of seven games that the Bandits have scored the game opener.
Okotoks responded with a pair of goals from Ian Kastamo (2) and Luc Trevors (1). However, with two seconds left in the first period, Michal Marsalek scored his first goal of the season and forced a 2-2 tie into the second period.
A scary moment in the second period occurred when Bandit forward Rylan Hue suffered a freak collision upper body injury in front of the Bandits’ net, where he lay motionless on the ice. With help from both teams training staff, Hue was held in a stable position for roughly 30 minutes until emergency personnel arrived. Hue was transported to a Calgary hospital and the Bandits received word that Hue was responsive, in good spirits, and moving all extremities. Salt in the wound was that Oilers’ forward Nolan Dupont scored at the very same time, giving Okotoks a 3-2 lead.
The Bandits responded with Makaio Van Tassel’s team-leading 8th goal of the season which was followed in the third period by an Alexei Zhukov powerplay goal and a 4-3 Bandit lead.
Without Hue, and also losing Koby Francis and Leon Gerber to injuries, the Oilers took advantage and tucked home four straight third period goals. A point shot from Ethan Anderson (1) tied the game, while a shorthanded goal on a 5-minute Bandits’ man-advantage from Connor Radke (2), a powerplay marker by Domenico Clarizio (1,) and the empty netter from Dupont (6) sealed a 7-4 victory.
The Bandits will now head to the BCHL Showcase in Nisku, Alberta for two tough games against a currently undefeated Victoria and the BCHL finals rematch with Nanimo. Brooks vs Victoria is scheduled for 2:45 on Tuesday, October 13th.
