The 26th season of Brooks Bandits hockey begins this weekend, and the defending BCHL Champions will visit a brand new arena, and host a familiar rival.
The Bandits open the season on Friday in Spruce Grove, and host the Okotoks Oilers on Saturday in Brooks.
For the first time since the 2009-10 season, the Bandits will have a new Head Coach. Dakota Mason, who played for the Bandits from 2011-13 and served as Assistant Coach since 2023, was promoted to the position in August following the departure of the team’s all-time winningest and longest tenured Head Coach, Ryan Papaioannou.
Cole McCaig was hired as Assistant Coach following seven seasons in the same position with the Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL), and Keven Sajinovic was promoted to Assistant Coach following six seasons as the Bandits Goaltender Coach. Wayne Labrie was promoted to Director of Hockey Operations, he has served as the team’s Head Scout since the 2017-18 season.
On May 25th, the Bandits captured the Fred Page Cup Championship in Chilliwack, BC, beating the Chiefs 6-2 in Game 6 of the BCHL Final series. Since then, the roster has welcomed players from all over the world.
Returning defenceman Krists Retenais makes up a trio of players from last year’s U20 National Team from Latvia, as forward Dmitrijs Dilevka and defenceman Harijs Cjunskis join the Bandits.
The Bandits have two 2008-born Russian players on the team with 2008-born forward Alexei Zhukov and Mark Konstantinov. Zhukov played for the Long Island Gulls (16UAAA) last season, while Konstantinov played for the New Jersey Rockets (16UAAA).
Representing Slovakia is 2008-born defenceman Michal Marsalek. The University of Maine commit spent last year with Boston Academy (16UAAA).
2005-born forward and St. Lawrence committed forward Frantisek Albrecht joins the Bandits. The Czechia product spent last season with HC Slavia Praha.
Swedish forward Harry Ahlberg (6’0, 210) and Swiss forward Jeremiah Mundy (6’3, 197) bring lots of size up front. Newcomers on the blueline include Francois Devilliers, who played for New Mexico (NAHL) last year joins the team alongside Zachary Deleau, who suited up for Valleyfield (QJHL) last season, winning a league Championship.
Forward Connor Paronuzzi joins the team after a prolific 2024-25 with Steinbach (MJHL), which saw him win the league scoring title and MVP award. He was a finalist for the CJHL MVP.
The crease will belong to goaltender Zach Zahara. The 2005-born native of Rockyview, AB returns to the Bandits after a terrific season that saw him guide the Bandits to the Fred Page Cup. Backing him will be 2006-born Jacob Gibbons, who spent last year with the Brampton Steelheads (OHL).
2005-born defenceman Dante Siciliano was named Captain, while returning forwards Jack Good and Liam Fitzpatrick will wear the ‘A’. Retenais was also named Captain. Forwards Jack Rosensteel, Mathis Dufour and Isaac Johnson return.
Friday, September 19th @ Spruce Grove Saints
7:00 pm (MT) – Thompson Family Arena (Spruce Grove, AB)
Radio: CIBQ New Country 105.7 FM
Stream: FloHockey
The Bandits begin the season in the brand new Thompson Family Arena in Spruce Grove, which is now the home of the Saints. Spruce Grove has yet to play a game in the building after playing all of their Preseason games on the road.
The Bandits and Saints met in six league championships, most recently in 2023.
The Saints missed the playoffs last year by a single point, finishing with a record of 19-29-6. The team hired Bram Stephen as Head Coach, making his return to the position he held from 2017-2023. During his previous tenure, the Saints won the 2018 AJHL Championship and four League Final appearances.
Saturday, September 20th vs Okotoks Oilers
7:00 pm (MT) – Centennial Regional Arena (Brooks, AB)
Radio: CIBQ New Country 105.7 FM
Stream: FloHockey
The Bandits host the Oilers for the Inter Pipeline Home Opener. The 2025 Fred Page Cup Championship banner and 2025 Interior Conference Championship banner will be unveiled from the rafters, and the new roster will be introduced to the fans. BUY TICKETS HERE
Brooks and Okotoks met three times in the Preseason, with the Bandits winning two out of three. Last weekend, the Bandits beat the Oilers 7-3 on September 12th at the CRA, followed by a wild 6-5 overtime victory in Okotoks on September 13th.
The Oilers clinched the final playoff spot last season with a record of 21-30-3, but were swept in the First Round by the Penticton Vees. Head Coach and General Manager Tyler Deis and his group are led by returning forwards Brett Wilson, Hunter Sawka, Michael Kowalski, Jacob Goudreau and former Bandit Josh Wiebe.
Photo credit: Matt Piotrowski
