Brooks, Alberta — The Brooks Bandits are set for a home-and-away back-to-back this weekend, facing the Sherwood Park Crusaders on Friday in Sherwood Park before hosting the Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Saturday at the Centennial Regional Arena. This marks their first regular-season action since a four-game road trip in Abbotsford, where they went a perfect 4–0.
Sherwood Park has proven to be a challenge for the Bandits, as their lone matchup earlier this season resulted in a 7–3 loss.
“Sherwood [Park] is a great team. We can’t think any game is going to be easier or harder. We just have to go out and do our thing,” said forward Isaac Johnson on Tuesday. “Obviously, they are a very skilled team, so we have to play solid defence and take the opportunities we get.”
Despite a recent three-game skid, Sherwood Park has been among the BCHL’s top teams this year. The Crusaders opened the season on a six-game win streak and remain undefeated at home, posting a 3–0 record with a +9 goal differential in those contests.
“We can’t be cocky [about our recent wins]. We need to be ready for Sherwood Park,” said defenceman Zachary Deleau, who scored the game-winning goal in his last outing against Chilliwack. “We know that first game against Sherwood Park didn’t go how we thought it would.”
The Crusaders enter the weekend 6–3–1, sitting third in the Interior East Division.
On Saturday, the Bandits return home to host the Salmon Arm Silverbacks for the first time this season; their first home game since October 3, when they fell 4–3 in overtime to the Trail Smoke Eaters. The Silverbacks come in with a 4–3–2–1 record, placing third in the Interior West Division behind West Kelowna (9–1–1) and Trail (9–1–0).
“I’m super excited to play in front of these fans,” Johnson added. “It’s been quite a few months since I was last able to play at home. I’m really excited.”
The Bandits hope their recent road success in B.C. translates to more home-ice momentum. Brooks currently sits one point behind the Blackfalds Bulldogs for first place in the Interior East Division, with two games in hand.
“Playing at home is always the best part of hockey,” said Deleau. “Especially with this community that’s always cheering for us… We know we have to play well for them.”
The Bandits’ power play has been a major weapon this season, converting at a 32.6% rate. Still, Deleau believes the group has more to give.
“We’re scoring, which is good, but we’re not doing what we should be doing,” he said. “Our power play is good overall, but we could execute better.”
Brooks’ power play ranks first in the Interior Conference and second overall in the BCHL, trailing only Prince George (40.5%), whom the Bandits defeated 6–2 last Wednesday in Chilliwack.
Puck drop for both games is set for 7:00 p.m. MT.
