NEWS

WESTERN CANADA CUP

Media Update

Release date: Saturday, May 6, 2017

Game No. 12

Bandits Capture Western Canada Cup In 6-1 Rout Of Chiefs

By: Trevor Miller

PENTICTON, B.C. – A four-goal second period would eventually propel the AJHL Champion Brooks Bandits to their first Western Canada Cup in franchise history with a 6-1 drubbing of the Chilliwack Chiefs on Saturday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre.  

Conner Jean scored a 2nd period hat trick while Mitch Benson made 29 saves on 30 shots that would be more than enough to punch the Bandits a ticket to Cobourg and head to the Royal Bank Cup for the second straight season.

Oliver Chau opened the scoring in the first period at the 11:54 mark as he wheeled out from behind the Chief net and fired a shot from the high slot that beat a heavily screened Mark Sinclair their first lead of the hockey game.

Chilliwack evened the game at the 14:06 mark of the 1st frame on a power play as a Carver Watson point shot was redirected toward the net by Justin Dixson with Benson making the initial save but Dixson following up on the rebound to tie a fast paced opening period of play.

The Bandits seized control of the game with the first of four 2nd period goals (and the first of a hat trick in the middle stanza) with Conner Jean burying a rebound off a Joe O'Connor point shot on the power play at the 2:22 mark of the frame and gave the Bandits a 2-1 lead, a goal which would eventually hold up as the game winner.

Arnaud Vachon put Brooks ahead by a 3-1 score off a rocket of a shot from the right face-off circle after a perfect pass from Kord Pankewicz at the 6:34 mark before Jean struck for a second time in the period. Cale Makar carved his way through the Chief defense to gain the offensive zone before delivering a pass to Jean at the midpoint and his knuckle puck got through Sinclair at the 17:25 mark of the period for a 4-1 Bandit advantage.

Just before the 2nd period was out, Jean completed his hat trick with just 16 seconds to go as he buried a rebound on the glove side of Sinclair to complete a dominating middle stanza for the Bandits and give the AJHL champs a 5-1 advantage heading to the locker room after two periods. 

The third period saw the Chiefs get an opportunity to get themselves back in the game as Bandit forward Jake Theis was given a five minute major penalty and game misconduct for kneeing at the 8:33 mark of the period. Instead of a possible comeback, Mitch Benson would stand tall and make several great saves before Parker Foo put the game on ice at 11:01 with a shorthanded empty net goal that put Brooks ahead 6-1 and give the Bandits their first ever Western Canada Cup in franchise history.

Final Score: 6-1 Brooks

Shots: 32-30 Brooks

Power-Plays: Brooks 2-5 Chilliwack 1-4

The loss puts the Chiefs into the "Play-In Game" with a second berth at the RBC Cup at stake and they will face a familiar foe in the Penticton Vees; puck drop is scheduled for 4 pm. Tickets are $25 and are available at the Valley First box office, or online at www.valleyfirsttix.com

The game will be streamed live, in HD, onwww.hockeyTV.com