Courtesy Brooks Bandits

By Lisa Parent

Bandits head back to nationals as reigning champs

May 1, 2023 | 3:58 PM

BROOKS, AB – The AJHL Championship series ended on Friday with a Bandits win in a thrilling game five.

Forward Brendan Poshak scored an overtime goal that sent 2000 Bandits fans to their feet.

This was their seventh AJHL championship win, taking down the familiar Spruce Grove Saints.

With this win, the Bandits are headed to Nationals, something that isn’t a new experience for the coaching staff and returning players.

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Assistant coach Taylor Makin was with the Bandits when they won the Centennial Cup last year.

He says there is a large target on their back, as the reigning National Champions.

But he feels the team is prepared, with a wealth of experience on their side.

“Everybody always wants to beat the previous champion, so every game you go into, you have a target on your back. ’If we can beat the bandits,’ teams feel pretty good about that. We’re pretty used to it in our league. Every night we see everyone else’s best. You know they wanna come in and they wanna knock off the champs, so we’re expecting the same thing here at this tournament.”

The Bandits head to Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, for the Centennial Cup next Tuesday.

Their first game is May 11 against the Yarmouth Mariners, the Maritime Hockey League champions.