Hughie Hooker at a bandits practice Nov. 28

By Lisa Parent

Brooks Bandits on ten game winning streak, highest of the season

Nov 29, 2023 | 9:08 AM

BROOKS, AB – The Brooks Bandits have ridden a wave high to the top of the Alberta Junior Hockey League standings. They’re on a ten game winning streak and haven’t lost a game in November, or at their home rink. This streak is their highest of the season.

This weekend they’ve got back-to-back games against their rivals, the Spruce Grove Saints, who they’ve met in three consecutive AJHL championships.

“It’s good to get on a streak here. We’ve played some tough teams and had a couple good wins, but we’ve got a few tough games coming up here,” explains third year Bandit Hughie Hooker.

He adds, “got a back to back against Spruce (Groves) this weekend, so we’ll have a few challenges along the way,” explains Hooker. “I think if we stick with it and keep playing the way we do, I think we can continue the streak.”

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At this point, Hooker is no stranger to a win streak. However he’s also no stranger to the Spruce Grove Saints, a team that’ll look to put a hault to the Bandits run of success this weekend.

“I think every game we play against Spruce is the closest thing you can get to a playoff game for sure,” says Hooker. “I know they always bring their best against us and we try to match that, so yeah, those games are always competitive.”

Parker Lalonde, Bandits centre from Saskatchewan says games against the Saints have a lot of hits and chirping amongst the teams.

“I think they’re going to be fast, physical games, I think they’re better than their record shows,” says Lalonde. “We’re going to try and play fast, play physical and impose our game on them.”

Lalonde says the win streak has their spirits high, but it won’t change the way they play their game.

“I think you go into games and if you’ve won a couple in a row, you have a lot more confidence and you’re willing to make more plays than you would if you’ve just lost the last game,” says Lalonde. “So I think having a win streak helps and I don’t think it makes us nervous at all.”

Saturday’s at home game will also feature the annual Teddy Bear toss, a charitable event for the Scotiabank Smiles for Christmas campaign.

“Everybody looks forward to the teddy bear toss. Obviously it’s an important game, not just because of the teddy bear toss, but it’s a tough opponent too against Spruce,” says Hooker. “But yeah, it’ll be fun, it’ll be interesting to see who gets the teddy bear toss goal, but hopefully we can come out with a win as well.”

Before the Bandits meet the Saints friday and Saturday, the Bandit will strive to keep their winning streak going tonight against the Calgary Canucks.