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By Nathan Crosby, Brooks Bandits

Buttazzoni hat trick helps propel Bandits to a 6-3 Family Day win over the Oilers

Feb 21, 2024 | 2:32 PM

The following is a submitted story.

Mirko Buttazzoni completed a hat trick by the 12:44 mark of the 2nd period, helping the Brooks Bandits remain perfect at home this season following a 6-3 doubling of the Okotoks Oilers on Family Day at the Centennial Regional Arena.

The Bandits (47-5) are now 6-1 in BCHL play, while winning their eighth straight game this season versus Okotoks.

Sam Scopa (Lexington, MA) made 18 saves, winning his third straight start.

A total of 1,715 fans took in the game, which saw the Bandits improve to 24-0 at home this year. Buttazzoni (Langley, BC) opened the scoring at 14:24 of the first period.

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Defenceman Ethan Beyer (Centennial, CO) carried the puck into the left wing corner and shot at Oilers starter Mikael Kingo, who made the save, but not the loose puck knocked in by Buttazzoni.

It was the only goal of the frame.

The game was physical, including a big hit from defenceman Hughie Hooker (Brandon, MB) on Hayden Fechner, but the only penalty called was a double minor for high sticking against the Oilers in the 3rd.

Scopa also came up big with a save on an Oilers two-on-one rush, with the Bandits goaltender denying forward Jagger Tapper on a forehand shot.

The bulk of the scoring came in the second period.

Buttazzoni’s second goal came at 5:54, he was able to score from the side of the net, banking off Kingo’s skate and into the Okotoks net.

The Oilers got one back at 8:20 after both teams stopped playing in what appeared to be the puck hitting the protective netting in the Brooks zone, instead play continued and forward Dean Spak scored on his own rebound to make it 2-1.

However, the Bandits took over, as forward Nathan Free (Calgary, AB) received a Keith McInnis (Red Deer, AB) stretch pass and scored on a breakaway to make it 3-1.

Buttazzoni completed his second hat trick as a Bandit — the other came Jan. 17 at Bonnyville — as sniped a left corner shot over the shoulder of Kingo.

Then at 18:13, forward Brock Souch scored off the rush to make it 5-1, his first home game since being traded from Sherwood Park. Okotoks got one back at 18:47, as Jagger Tapper scored off the rush to cut the lead to 5-2.

The Oilers made things interesting in the third, as Brett Wilson scored at 17:29 to cut the lead to 5-3.

But with the Okotoks net empty, Bandits forward Parker Lalonde (Aberdeen, SK) finished off an empty net chance to seal the 6-3 win.

Final shots were 39-21 Brooks.

The Bandits homestand continues on Friday, Feb. 23. when they host the Blackfalds Bulldogs, followed by a home date with the Sherwood Park Crusaders on Saturday, Feb. 24. Both games are at 7 p.m.