Photo courtesy of Brooks Bandits

By Tyler King - Brooks Bandits

Perfect Start

Bandits start season 4-0 with 4-2 win over Calgary

Sep 22, 2019 | 11:41 AM

BROOKS, AB – Trey Thomas (Williams Lake, B.C.) scored two goals, and the Brooks Bandits (4-0) got 14 saves from goalie Ethan Barwick (St. Albert, AB) for his first career AJHL win, downing the Calgary Canucks at home 4-2 on Saturday night.

It’s the first time the Bandits have started a season 4-0 since 2012, when they went on to set a new AJHL record with a 20-0 start.

Thomas’ first of the game opened the scoring with 1:01 left in the opening frame, when Devin Phillips (Raleigh, NC) fired him a perfect pass from the right corner for a top shelf shot from the slot by the former Bonnyville Pontiac.

The Bandits then dominated the second, outshooting the Canucks 20-2 and notching two more goals; the first a T.J. Hughes (Hamilton, ON) rebound goal, and the second a Chris Pappas (Toronto, ON) wrister off the rush, again set up by Phillips.

In the third, Calgary broke Barwick’s shutout bid with a Dylan Clark wrister from the slot at 9:40, but Thomas scored just 15 seconds later on a net front rebound to reclaim a three-goal lead. With 25 seconds left, Alex Heal scored on a close range play to make it 4-2, but the Bandits held on to sweep their home opening weekend.

RECAP

Week in review: Truth and reconciliation in Medicine Hat, Smith at cities conference

Sep 28, 2024

At Medicine Hat's Kom Mo Taan, people find healing

Sep 27, 2024

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Medicine Hat

Sep 27, 2024

Brooks outshot the Canucks 46-16 in the game, going 0 for 3 on the power play and 5 for 6 on the penalty kill.

The Bandits head to Camrose for the annual AJHL Showcase, with an 8 PM matchup on Thursday night against the Spruce Grove Saints in a rematch of last year’s AJHL Final. Pre-game coverage starts at 7:45 PM on Real Country 105.7.