Bulldogs Defeat Bandits 7-4 Claim First Place In The AJHL

In a Halloween showdown at the Eagle Builders Centre, the Blackfalds Bulldogs faced off against the Brooks Bandits with first place in the league standings at stake. The Bandits led the race by a single point, having secured a come-from-behind win in their previous game, while the Bulldogs had dropped to three points behind after a shootout loss. The Bulldogs got off to a fast start, taking a 4-0 lead in the first 11 minutes of the game, with goals from Carter Patterson, Layne Loomer, and Eddie Moskowitz. However, Brooks fought back and tied the game at 4-4 in the second period. The Bulldogs regained the lead and secured a 7-4 victory, with goaltender Wilson Maxfield making key saves in the third period. This win improved the Bulldogs’ record to 15-2-1, making them the league leaders with a 10-0-1 record in October.

Carter Patterson scored his 5th goal of the season off of a Connor Dick rebound at 7:10 of the first period to make it a 1-0 Bulldogs game. The other assist on the goal went to Jayden Joly. (Connor Dick had a nice chance to score earlier but he hit the post).

Layne Loomer made it a 2-0 game just 1:03 later on the Power Play with the assists on the goal going to Dakota MacIntosh and Hunter Brown.

Brendan Ross got his 14th goal of the season at 9:47 of the first period on the Power Play tipping in a shot to make it a 3-0 Bulldogs lead. The assists on the goal to Layne Loomer and Edward Moskowitz.

Edward Moskowitz scores one having it trickle through the legs of Bandits netminder former Merritt Centennial Johnny Hicks. Assist on the goal to Matt Hanscome.

Former Sherwood Park Crusader Ewan McPherson scored on a one timer for the Bandits on the Power Play to make it a 4-1 game at 12:39 of the first period. Assists on the goal to Langley, BC native Mirko Buttazzoni and former Vernon Viper Dylan Compton.

Indiana native Quinn McCall made it a 4-2 with about 7 minutes left in the first period with the assists going to Calgary native rookie Josh Wiebe and Providence College commit Logan Sawyer.

Shots on goal in the first period were 13-11 for the Bandits. This has also been the first time all season that the Bandits have been trailing after the first period.

Nathan Free scored just 1:43 into the second period to make it a 4-3 game. with the assist to Dylan Compton on the Power Play.

Nathan Free scored his second goal of the night at 4:15 of the second period with the assist going to Josh Wiebe. That marked the end of the night for Ethan Morrow. Which was even then a little confusing as the goals seemed to be nowhere near his fault. But fresh legs work too. There was 2 ways to look at Wilson Maxfield going into net and I remember thinking about this before the game. All those guys probably know exactly where to shoot on him. Should of thought of the more logical and better scenario. He is going to know exactly where all those guys are going to shoot.

Layne Loomer scored his second goal of the night and 7th of the season with a one time shot upstairs for the Bulldogs to regain the lead and make it a 5-4 game at 12:15 of the second period. Assists on the goal to Dakota MacIntosh and Brendan Ross. Also I am thinking at this point in the game I better run outside and grab a hat. I always have to start brining hats to these games.

This is why I wanted the hat. I thought I had until the third period. But I did not. Layne Loomer completed his hat trick goal tipping in a Tanner Willick point shot at 18:16 of the second period. Assist on the goal to Tanner Willick and Brendan Ross.

Shots on goal in the second period were 13-8 for the Bandits

MacIntosh scored on the empty net to make it a 7-4 game. After he scored he got a nasty cross check from tough guy Nic DeGraves. Come on man thats not the way a Captain should act🤪. What would the school the kid is going to say. I am sure that these American Schools hold the utmost standards for their students and their safety. (checks where the kid is going on the list Penn State) Maybe that will be acceptable there. They were in the news for something with the athletic department and its student athletes. Not sure what though🤔. Shots on goal in the third period were 17-4 Bulldogs. The Bulldogs were outshot through out the whole game 43-23.

Three Stars of the game were 1) Layne Loomer 2) Wilson Maxfield 3) Nathan Free

Wilson Maxfield relieved Ethan Morrow at 4:15 of the second period and stopped all 24 shots he faced for the win. For the Bandits Kamloops, BC Native Johnny Hicks stopped 16 of the 22 shots that he faced.

Attendance in Blackfalds was 538

Bulldogs next game is at home on Saturday November 4th against the Olds Grizzlys then the next day on the 5th they head to Drayton Valley to play the Thunder Sunday afternoon.

Three Bandits were named to the NHL Central Scouting Preliminary Players to Watch List for the 2024 NHL draft. Last season the Bandits had 3 players selected in the 2023 NHL draft. The following players were listed.

MacIntosh got a cross checking penalty during this so it was coincidental. Shouldn’t it be called embellishment then? Or did MacIntosh even cross check him in the first place? Being a ref would be hard, but that just confuses me.