Brooks Bandits drop a 4-2 decision to Spruce Grove Saints in preseason opener

The Bandits scored their first of the preseason at 2:01 into the third period when Jacob Bultje tucked it home on a wraparound. Tomas Racz had the assist.

Down 3-1, the Bandits pulled their goaltender late in the third, and the Saints converted with an empty-net goal from Alexy Lachaine to make it 4-1 at 18:54.

Alexandre Monarque gave the Bandits faithful something to cheer about with nine seconds remaining, scoring on Saints goaltender Colten Scott to cut the deficit to 4-2.

The Bandits had goaltender Yundi Cai playing the first half of the contest. He gave up one goal on 12 shots. In the second half, Ianfranco Vargas Sanchez stopped 25 of 27 shots.

It was light work in the first half of the game for the Saints goaltender Joseph Quintilo, who faced only six shots in over thirty minutes of work. Scott stopped 18 of 20 shots in relief.

Overall, the Bandits were outshot by the Saints 40-26.

It was a quiet night in the penalty box, as the Bandits served only a single two-minute penalty compared to four minors served by the Saints.

The Bandits lineup included only five skaters who suited up for the team last season. Defencemen Nikita Bogatyrev, Michal Marsalek and Lazarus Ebanoidze, and forwards Dmitrijs Dilevka and Michael Kucherawy.

A crowd of 811 came out to support the Bandits.

Two exhibition contests remain for the Bandits, first in Okotoks against the Oilers on Friday. Then, the Bandits host the Oilers on Saturday. Both contests start at 7 p.m.

The BCHL regular season begins for the Bandits on Sept. 18 in Blackfalds against the Bulldogs, with the home opener at Centennial Regional Arena the next night, Sept. 19 against the Oilers.

by Jesse Gill

Brooks Bandits drop a 4-2 decision to Spruce Grove Saints in preseason opener

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