Do or die: Brooks Bandits fight for playoff survival in Game 7 brawl tonight vs. Okotoks Oilers

The winner of Tuesday’s game will play against the Sherwood Park Crusaders in a best of seven series.

The winner of that series will play against the Fred Page Cup champions — the top BCHL team — in a best-of-three exhibition.

Looking ahead at what could be their last game before officially entering the BCHL, center Parker Lalonde said that regular season and playoff hockey are two different beasts and that in the playoffs, anything can happen.

“I think it’s a different game that what people think. Okotoks are physical, they’re playing smart defensively, they’re trying to slow us down, they’re not giving up any free chances, we’re creating enough, but their goalie is playing well,” Lalonde said.

“I think we knew that it wasn’t going to be easy and we knew it was going to be a long series, even if other people didn’t expect it to be,” he said.

Assistant Coach Taylor Makin agrees with the sentiment, saying that Okotoks’ record doesn’t reflect their skill and that the team doesn’t get the recognition they deserve.

“They’re a good team. I don’t think they get the credit they deserve sometimes with how strong their lineup is. They’re very deep up front, they have a good back end and their goalie has been playing really this series for them,” Makin said.

“I don’t think it’s something that we weren’t expecting to have a tough series, and sure enough, that’s what we got. We kind of thought it was going to be a tough series. It’s going to be a grind, and that’s what it’s been so far,” he said.

Makin said that game 7’s might be unusual for the Bandits, but that the hometown crowd and the national experience that team leaders have will lend itself to tonights game.

“In the playoffs, we haven’t seen a lot of Game 7s, but we’ve have a lof ot guys play national semi-finals which is a win-or-go-home which is just like a Game 7,” Makin said.

“We’ve had guys who have played in two national semi-finals, two national finals. Some guys on the team have been in one so I think when it comes down to one and dones, we have a lot of experience,” he said.

While the series has been a constant back and forth, Lalonde said that the feeling in the locker room is not one of concern.

“I think it’s confident in there. I think we know what we have in that room, I think we know the kind of players and personnel that we have, so I think it’s confidence. I don’t think we’re worried at all. If we come out and play our game, we’re going to be fine,” Lalonde said.

“We’re all excited. When you grow up, you do’t dream about the playing in the regular season, you dream about Game 7s and being the hero. If we play within our system, someone’s going to be the hero tonight and the game is going to be a good one,” he said.

While the Bandits won’t be able to win a championship this season, pride is still at stake as every team in the BCHL wants a shot at the three-peat Centennial Cup Champions.

A series against the gold standard of junior hockey can showcase what the BCHL has in store next season.

by Adrian St.Onge

Do or die: Brooks Bandits fight for playoff survival in Game 7 brawl tonight vs. Okotoks Oilers

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