SPRUCE GROVE, AB (March 15, 2024) – A 2nd period, four-minute powerplay helped the Brooks Bandits build a sizeable lead, which they never surrendered in a 4-1 win over the Saints on Friday at the Grant Fuhr Arena.
Goaltender Sam Scopa (Lexington, MA) made 24 saves for his eighth straight win, while the Bandits powerplay went 2/2, with the penalty kill going 5/5. The Bandits (53-5) improved to 12-1 in the BCHL.
After a successful Bandits penalty kill in the 1st period, forward Nathan Free (Calgary, AB) opened the scoring at 13:18 from long range, sniping a top shelf forehand shot from the blueline. The Bandits killed off two penalties in the frame. Shots were 8-6 for Spruce Grove.
Defenceman Ethan Beyer (Centennial, CO) drew a double-minor, high sticking penalty in the 2nd period, and the Bandits converted twice on the opportunity. First at 2:59, centre Caelan Fitzpatrick (Moose Jaw, SK) banged in a rebound from a Parker Lalonde (Aberdeen, SK) shot from the net front to make it 2-0. Then at 4:48, forward Nic DeGraves (Edmonton, AB) ripped a left circle shot thanks to a cross-ice pass from Fitzpatrick to increase the lead to 3-0. Forward Hunter Wallace (Oak Lake, MB) banged in a backdoor pass from Ty Mason (Weyburn, SK) at 17:56, increasing the lead to 4-0. Brooks outshot Spruce Grove 15-11 in the frame.
Saints defenceman Jed Magarrell denied Scopa the shutout at 7:33, one-timing a puck from the right circle to cut the lead to 4-1, the only goal Scopa surrendered on 25 shots.
The Bandits and Saints meet again on Saturday, March 16th in Spruce Grove. Game time is 7:00 pm, listen to live coverage on New Country 105.7 FM.
