The Brooks Bandits celebrate a goal in the 5-1 game two win over the Cranbrook Bucks on Saturday at the Centennial Regional Arena. (Image Credit: Matt Piotrowski Photography/Brooks Bandits)

By Jesse Gill

Sports

Brooks Bandits jump out to a 2-0 series lead against Cranbrook Bucks

May 4, 2026 | 11:30 AM

The Brooks Bandits jumped out to a 2-0 series lead over the weekend in the best-of-seven British Columbia Hockey League Interior Conference Finals against the Cranbrook Bucks.

A pair of home games that had the Bandits cruise to a 6-2 win on Friday, and a 5-1 victory on Saturday.

In game one, the Bandits had goals from six different skaters and a multi-point night for four different skaters. Forwards Jack Good and Harry Ahlberg each had a goal and an assist, with defenseman Francois De Villiers doing the same. Defenceman Tanner Winegard had a pair of assists.

After exchanging goals in the first period, the Bandits jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the second. The Bucks struck first in the third with Adam Csabi’s eighth of the year. It was one of the two Bucks power play markers in the game.

The Bandits would bounce back with a short-handed goal from Mathis Dufour, before adding two more to complete the scoring.

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Bandits Goaltender Zach Zahara turned aside 20 of 22 shots, while Bucks goaltender Jason Tremblay turned aside 27 of 33 pucks.

Game two had the Bandits jump out to a 3-0 lead by the end of the second. The Bucks would get their first even-strength goal of the series from Shane Tronoski, also his first of the playoffs, in the third period.

Following that was a pair of Bandits goals, including an empty netter.

Three Bandits players had multi-point games in the contest. Winegard had a pair of goals, with Good and Isaac Johnson each getting a pair of assists.

Zahara turned aside 29 of 30 shots for the Bandits’ win, with Josh Scully stopping 20 of 24 shots in the Bucks’ loss.

The next three games of the series are scheduled at Western Financial Place in Cranbrook.

Games three and four are on Tuesday and Wednesday, both at 7 p.m.

A Bucks win in either game would extend the series to a game five in Cranbrook on Friday at 7 p.m.

If the series shifts back to Brooks, game six and seven at the Centennial Regional Arena are scheduled for Monday, May 11, and Tuesday, May 12, both at 7 p.m.

by Jesse Gill

Brooks Bandits jump out to a 2-0 series lead against Cranbrook Bucks

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