Photo courtesy of Brooks Bandits

By Nathan Crosby - Brooks Bandits

Back to Back Losses

Missing key forwards, Bandits fall 6-5 in Camrose

Jan 5, 2020 | 11:11 AM

CAMROSE, AB – For the first time this season, and first time since November 24th, 2017, the Brooks Bandits (36-3-1) have dropped back-to-back regular season games. The Bandits fell 6-5 to the Camrose Kodiaks Saturday night at Encana Arena.

Brooks was without three key forwards, as captain Jakob Lee (64 pts in 34 games), Randy Hernández (71 pts in 39 games), and Marc-Antoine Benoit (31 pts in 36 games) were not dressed. Lee and Hernández were injured the previous night in Okotoks.

The Kodiaks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 1st period thanks to back-to-back goals from forward Cody Laskosky at 9:07 and 12:16. Brooks battled back, tying the game as forward Chris Pappas (Toronto, ON) scored from the netfront on the powerplay at 14:28, followed by newcomer Ryan McAllister’s first as a Bandit as he one-timed a Pappas pass at 16:48 to tie the game 2-2.

Camrose needed only 13 seconds of the 2nd period to retake the lead, as forward Brett Wieschorster knocked in a McKenzie Welke pass into the open net to make it 3-2.

The rest of the 2nd period, Brooks controlled the play. McAllister riffled his 2nd of the night from the right circle on a setup from Pappas at 3:23 to tie the game on the powerplay. Then at 6:34, defenceman Jordan Di Cicco (London, ON) tipped in a Tyler Bates (Calgary, AB) point shot to give Brooks a 4-3 lead. The assist was Bates’ first point of the season, giving Brooks their first lead of the night. Soonafter, forward TJ Hughes (Hamilton, ON) redirected a Tim Rego (Mansfield, MA) shot to give Brooks a 5-3 lead going into the 3rd period.

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The 3rd period saw Camrose cut the lead to 5-4 at 6:52 as forward Lynden Grandberg scored shorthanded, followed by the game tying goal at 8:19 from Wieschorster, finishing off an Erik Miller pass. The Kodiaks then took the lead at 10:12 as Laskosky completed the hat trick with a top shelf shot. The Bandits failed to tie the game despite relentless pressure on the Kodiak goal.

Final shots were 39-27 Brooks, with goaltender Pierce Charleson making 21 saves, while Kodiaks netminder Griffin Bowerman made 34 stops.

The Bandits return home for two games next weekend. First up, they host the Olds Grizzlys on Friday, January 10th, presented by Medicine Hat College.

Then, on Saturday, January 11th, they welcome the Calgary Canucks to the Centennial Regional Arena, presented by Chinook Financial. The game will also feature the Early Bird draws for the Bandits Lottery. They’ll be drawing for a $1,000 prize, as well as a Trip to Vegas valued at $2,500.

Reserve your seat by visiting tickets.brooksbandits.ca, both games start at 7:00 PM.