Bandits clinch 1st in South with 4-0 win in Camrose
CAMROSE, AB – Mitch Benson (Windsor, ON) stopped all 28 shots he faced for his fifth shutout, as the Brooks Bandits (41-4-4) clinched first place in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) South division, downing the host Camrose Kodiaks 4-0 at Encana Arena on Tuesday night.
With the win, the Bandits win the South regular season title for the fifth time in the last six seasons, and will have a first-round bye in the AJHL playoffs.
With both teams missing some of their top scorers, both went down an extra man just 5:56 into the period after a clean hit by Nathan Plessis (Salmon Arm, B.C.) drew a challenge from Camrose veteran forward Josh Zablocki; the two fought with Plessis landing a plethora of right hands, but Zablocki landing the final punch of the fight. No instigator penalty was assessed on the fight and both players were ejected.
Brooks broke through for the opening goal at the 16:27 mark when Nic Hamre (Ottawa, ON) fed a pass to the front of the net from the left corner, which Arnaud Vachon (Ajax, ON) tipped home for his 17th of his rookie campaign and a 1-0 Bandit lead.