Brooks, Alberta — The Brooks Bandits are set to host the Cowichan Valley Capitals for the first time in franchise history after going 1-1 at the BCHL Showcase in Nisku, Alberta. The Bandits fell to the Victoria Grizzlies 4-2 before defeating the Nanaimo Clippers 4-1 to snap their three-game losing streak.
“This is a big win against a team we have a lot of history with,” said forward Mike Kucherawy after their win against the Clippers. “We needed to relax and dial it back in after three straight losses… We had the pieces to pull it back together.”
The physicality was palpable throughout the game, with multiple scrums breaking out after whistles.
“It went right back to the final series. They have some returners and we had some returners and we knew the game was going to be physical,” Kucherawy added. “We just had the more competitive edge to win the game.”
Kucherawy scored in the game and now has three goals on the season through nine games.
“It is good to be back on the score sheet,” he said. ” I couldn’t do it without the power play.”
Forward Joseph Sinclair has recorded five points in three games. Following the win against the Clippers, he also earned his first victory as a Bandit.
“It feels great to be on this side of things,” Sinclair said about his first win in a Bandit uniform. “I feel at home [in Brooks], and it is a great group of guys.”
Kolby Francis leads the BCHL with an average of 1.80 points per game. He missed both BCHL Showcase games due to an injury sustained Saturday night against the Okotoks Oilers.
Dmitrijs Dilevka recorded a goal and two assists in Wednesday’s victory over Nanaimo, bringing his season total to 14 points in nine games. He is tied for sixth in the BCHL in points. Dilevka and fellow forward Alexei Zhukov lead the BCHL in power-play assists (6), while Zachary Deleau and Francis are tied for fourth with five each.
The Cowichan Valley Capitals will visit the Okotoks Oilers on Friday before travelling to Brooks on Saturday.
Despite losing their first three games of October, the Capitals have found success since arriving in Alberta. They have defeated both the Spruce Grove Saints and the Blackfalds Bulldogs by a combined score of 11-6. By the end of their Alberta road trip, they will have faced every Alberta team except Sherwood Park, whom they will host on November 21.
Trace Friedsen leads the Capitals with ten points in ten games, averaging a point per game. Bryce Bryant leads the team with five goals. In net, starter Evan Maillet has won just two of his eight starts. Backup Noah Sinagowitz remains undefeated at 2-0-0 with a .914 save percentage.
The Capitals sit last in the Coastal West Division with a 4-6-0 record. Heading into this matchup, the Bandits have a 1-1-1 record against Coastal West opponents, with a win against Nanaimo, a regulation loss to Victoria, and an overtime loss to Alberni Valley.
Following a recent surge, the Okotoks Oilers have overtaken the Brooks Bandits in the Interior East standings with a 5-3-1 record. The Bandits also hold a 5-3-1 record but lost the tiebreaker to the Oilers last Saturday. A sizeable gap separates the two teams from the rest of the division. The next team, the Blackfalds Bulldogs, has played two more games than both the Oilers and Bandits but sits three points behind them. The Saints and Crusaders are tied for last place, each with a 3-6-1 record.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. MT on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on FloHockey and New Country 105.7.
