Aiden Fink, left, celebrates his second goal of the game in the Brooks Bandits' 6-1 victory over the Terrebonne Cobras on May 16, 203 at the Centennial Cup. (Screengrab From YouTube/Brooks Bandits)

By Chris Brown

Bandits have momentum going into Centennial Cup playoffs

May 19, 2023 | 10:47 AM

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, MB – The Brooks Bandits are two wins away from making history at the Centennial Cup. The team is attempting to become the first ever to win three consecutive national junior A championships.

The Bandits outscored their opponents 27 to 4 over four round robin games, and the perfect 4-0 record earned them a bye into the semi-finals on Saturday.

Aiden Fink says the team built momentum and found a new gear in the round robin, setting the stage for this weekend.

“Getting those four games is just a lot of confidence built up for us so that’s always good for us,” he said on Thursday.

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“More of the same. Just playing our game, have lots of energy, you know,” he said of what they need to do to get back-to-back-to-back titles. “We know w’ere the best team here so just play our game I think if we play our game we’ll be fine.”

Who the Bandits play in the semi-finals depends on the outcome of Friday’s quarter-finals games. The Collingwood Blues face the Ottawa Junior Senators in the first quarter-finals, followed by the Portage Terriers against the Yarmouth Mariners.

Bandits awards

On Thursday, Fink picked up a trio of awards in Portage la Prairie. He was named the Canadian Junior Hockey League MVP, and the MVP and top forward at the Centennial Cup. He led the round robin with 11 points to also earn the top scorer award. His five goals and six assists tied for the lead in both those categories.

He credits his teammates and coaches for pushing him every day and says the awards are great. He’s focused on another trophy though.

“I just want another national championship,” he says. “That was the best feeling of my life last year. I don’t think there’s a better feeling than winning another national championship.”

Bandits blueliner Ethan Beyer was named the tournament’s top defenceman. He scored three goals and five assists, putting him second in scoring among all skaters.