Thursday night the Canucks hosted the Brooks Bandits in the first of three matchups in a two-week span. Things started off in favour of the Bandits as #2 Carter Wolski put one in the net to give the Bandits a 1-0 lead. The Canucks would battle hard but were unable to even the score. In the second the Bandits took advantage of a power play opportunity as #25 Pierre Anthony Martineau to make it 2-0 Bandits. #12 Connor Jean would extend the Bandits lead with a goal at 12:15 of the second. Again, the Canucks were unable to get something going and would finish the period down 3-0. In the third the Bandits hit the ice hard scoring 4 goals in 4 minutes to give themselves a 7-0 lead. The first was a power play goal from #25 Pierre Anthony Martineau, followed by a goal from #5 Brandon Scanlin who also scored on the power play. Their third goal of the period came courtesy of #7 Simon Boyko. he Bandits 4th goal of the period was scored by #10 Arnaud Vachon. Things would end with the Bandits up 7-0.
After a tough loss to the Bandits at home on Thursday night the Canucks travelled to Brooks for a rematch against the Bandits on Saturday. The Bandits' #13 Will Garin started the scoring with a power play goal at 5:20 of the first. Things would finish with the Canucks down by one and shots tied at 5-5. To start the second #24 Pierre Anthony Martineau made it 2-0 Bandits. The Canucks weren’t backing down and battled back as captain #4 Kyler Newman shot one into the back of the net from #2 Brody Medeiros to move the Canucks within one. That wasn’t the end to the Canucks pushback as just 14 seconds later #27 Jordan McConnell tied the game after a set up from #12 Andrew Marshall and #22 Josh Giacomin. After a series of penalities were handed out, the Bandits came out with a power play and were able to score to make it 3-2 with a goal from #10 Arnaud Vachon. The period would end with the Bandits holding a 3-2 lead over the Canucks. Down by one the Canucks were hoping to tie up the game. Putting on the pressure the Canucks pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker. Unfortunately, the Bandits scored on the empty net to take a 4-2 lead with just 27 seconds left in the period. Final score would be 4-2 Bandits.
Up next, the Canucks are heading out to Drumheller to take on the Dragons on Tuesday night. Then the Canucks will be in Strathmore to host the Brooks Bandits on Friday night. Game time is 7:30 at Strathmore Family Centre.
Go Canucks Go!