By Tyler King - Brooks Bandits

Bandits stun Oilers with 3-2 Game 2 comeback win

Apr 1, 2018 | 12:06 PM

OKOTOKS, AB – Trailing 2-0 early in the third period, the Brooks Bandits stormed back with three unanswered goals, including two in the span of ten seconds in the final minute, to take a stunning a 3-2 victory over the Okotoks Oilers in Game 2 of the AJHL South Final on Saturday night, tying the series 1-1.

Despite outshooting the Oilers 10-7 in the opening frame, a breakaway goal for Tanner Laderoute gave the home side the 1-0 advantage after one period. Brooks was outshot 11-7 in the second frame but goalie Mitch Benson (Windsor, ON) stood tall to keep the game a one-goal affair.

But Okotoks seemed poised to seal the game after an early third period goal just 13 seconds in, when Austin Wong tapped in a backdoor feed from Kyle Gordon on an odd man rush on the opening shift to make it 2-0 Oilers.

The comeback for Brooks was cued when captain Dennis Cesana (Providence, RI) sped in on a power play rush and ripped a shot from the right circle past Okotoks goalie Riley Morris to get the Bandits on the board.

With the Bandit net empty and an offensive zone draw for Brooks, a faceoff win led to Luke Bast (Red Deer, AB) feeding Cesana at the left halfboards for a one-time shot that Mack Hancock (Kingston, ON) tipped home to tie the game with just 54 seconds left in regulation.

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Overtime loomed, but only briefly, as right off the centre ice faceoff, Nathan Plessis (Salmon Arm, BC) deflected a puck to Jake Theis (Chanhassen, MN), who sped by the Oiler defence and tucked a breakaway shot past a sprawling Morris for the dramatic game-winning goal. The Oilers pressed late but Brooks held on and tied the series 1-1, outshooting Okotoks 29-26 in the game.

The Bandits were 1 for 4 on their power play and a perfect 5 for 5 on the penalty kill.

Game 3 of the series is set for Monday night as the setting shifts to the Centennial Regional Arena in Brooks. Tickets are available right now online at tickets.brooksbandits.ca.