Brooks, Alberta – The Brooks Bandits are set for a tough test this weekend as they head to West Kelowna to face the surging Warriors in a two-game set that promises to be tightly contested.
The Warriors are coming off a narrow 3-2 loss to the Trail Smoke Eaters but had rattled off five straight wins before that setback. Sitting at 9-1-2, West Kelowna has been one of the most consistent and well-rounded teams in the BCHL so far this season.
“We’ll be ready to play our game from the get-go,” said Bandits forward Mathis Dufour on Tuesday. “We’ve been studying their systems and we’ll be prepared.”
This weekend’s matchup rekindles memories of the 2025 playoff series between these two clubs; a hard-fought five-game set that Brooks ultimately won, though several games could have gone either way. Two of those contests needed overtime, with the Bandits coming out on top in both.
“We’re expecting a fast, skilled team that’s hard to play against,” said Brooks newcomer Kolby Gapter, who previously played in Kelowna as a member of the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. “It’s a big test for us, but we just need to focus on playing our game.”
Gapter will be suiting up for just his second game as a Bandit this weekend before making his home debut on November 8 against the Blackfalds Bulldogs.
Meanwhile, Isaac Johnson and Alexei Zhukov are coming off stellar performances that earned them first and second stars of the week, respectively. Both will look to continue their hot streaks as the Bandits head into BC. Zhukov is tied for the BCHL rookie scoring lead with 16 points, while fellow rookie Kamyl Chemrouk ranks third with 14.
Johnson currently leads the BCHL in points per game (2.00), tallying six goals and ten points in just five appearances this season.
Both games in West Kelowna are scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PT. Fans can catch all the action with Nathan Crosby on New Country 105.7 and FloHockey.
