By Tyler King - Brooks Bandits

Comeback falls short as Bandits downed 3-2 in overtime in Okotoks

Oct 16, 2017 | 9:50 AM

OKOTOKS, AB – The Brooks Bandits (8-4-1) fell behind early but stormed back on Sunday afternoon in Okotoks, erasing an early 2-0 deficit, but this time fell in overtime to the Okotoks Oilers (11-1) on the road.

Though it ends the Bandits’ four-game win streak, the team has gotten standings points out of five consecutive games and sits 2 points out of second place in the AJHL South division.

The Oilers broke the game open early with 2 goals in 61 seconds in the first period. At 6:02, Kylor Wall slapped in a power play goal on a one-timer to break the deadlock, while Kaleb Ergang backhanded a puck past Bandit goalie Mitch Benson (Windsor, ON) on a 2-man breakaway to double the lead at 7:03.

But before the period was out, the Bandits broke Ben Howard’s shutout bid when Nic Hamre (Ottawa, ON) forced a turnover at the side of the Oiler net and cut in front unopposed, tucking a shot into the Oiler net to cut the deficit in half.

In the second, the Bandits were outshot 10-7 but got the only goal of the period when captain Dennis Cesana (Providence, RI) sniped a wrist shot from the right circle off the rush to tie the game.

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But Okotoks outshot the Bandits by a further 8-4 margin in the third, with the game heading to overtime where the teams traded golden scoring opportunities. Austin Wong ended the game with just 13 seconds separating it from a shootout, when he beat a defender at the right circle, cut to the slot unopposed a wired a wrister past Benson to give the Oilers the dramatic 3-2 win.

The Bandits next host the Canmore Eagles in the first match of the year between the two divisional rivals, at the Centennial Regional Arena on Friday night at 7:00 PM. Tickets are available online at tickets.brooksbandits.ca.