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Bandits stay red-hot on home ice

Feb 20, 2018 | 11:03 AM

BROOKS, AB – The Brooks Bandits took down the Drumheller Dragons 4-2 Monday night, thanks to Nolan Thompson’s third period heroics.

 

With just under ten minutes remaining Thompson beat Hunter Virostek for his ninth goal of the season, breaking a 2-2 tie. Brooks has been virtually unstoppable on home ice this year, with a record of 23-4.

 

Mound, Minnesota native Will Garin pitched in with two goals while fellow American import Connor Jean added two helpers on the night. Both players are averaging a point-per-game.

 

Goaltender Mitch Benson finished the night with 21 saves on 23 shots. The Windsor, Ontario product is coming off a stellar week in the blue paint, earning the Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week, after posting an impressive .983 save percentage in three wins. Benson is in the running for AJHL Goaltender of the Year. If he wins, he will be the first Bandits goaltender to ever take home the award.

 

The Bandits are guaranteed to finish second in the South Division with five regular season games remaining. They’ll play either the Canmore Eagles or Olds Grizzlys in round one of the playoffs, hunting down a third straight AJHL Championship. Brooks has made the finals five of the last six years, winning four times.

They were a minute away from winning the Royal Bank Cup last year, losing in gut-wrenching fashion to the host Cobourg Cougars in overtime. They will host the National Junior-A Championships in spring of 2019