The Bulldogs look hurt, tired, and or drained. If a fan walked into that game and never seen the Bulldogs play this year you would think it was guys purposely trying to lose. The Bandits even played better than they had the last 2 games. It has to be those studly Karate Kid Bandanas that they were all wearing when they hoped off the bus. Those head bands are the coolest thing a hockey player can wear next to a wheelie bag👍
Heath Armstrong opened up the scoring for the Bandits at 4:25 of the first period assist to Saskatoon native Luke Marshall. That makes it a 1-0 Brooks game.
Otto Hanson got his third of the post season to tie the game up at 6:54 of the first period. Assists on the goal to Kasey Hiemstra and Jake Geraci. Great move on Tom Selleck there intercepting the pass. Tie Game. Then at about the 12 minute mark of the first period the Bulldogs may of messed up and passed the puck directly to Brooks in front of the net to give Brooks the lead. One of the Bulldogs who also scores alot of goals on the net he is suppose to sort of bounced it off Hudson Malinoski’s skate onto Aiden Finks stick. The Bulldogs had a 5 on 3 powerplay at the end of the first period. They basically trashed the whole opportunity. It was sad.
Connor Dick tied the game up at 2 at 2:34 of the first period assisted to Jason Siedem and Brendan Ross. But that tie game was very short lived as less than a minute later former Selkirk Steeler Jordan Hughesman gave Brooks the lead with the assist going to Luke Marshall.
Since the Bulldogs tend to be lazy when they make line changes (guys skating off the ice like its picnic time) they got a too many men penalty. Unlike when the Bulldogs go on Powerplays the Bandits score. Brooks Aiden Fink made it a 4-2 game at 3:12 of the first period assist from Hunter Wallace and Hudson Malinoski on the Powerplay. After the first two periods the Bandits outshot the Bulldogs 29-15. 🙄😲
The Bandits made it 5-1 when 16 year old Nathan Free scored from Jordan Hughesman and Luke Marshall. at 9:31 of the third period. The Bulldogs showed a form of a pulse at 15:43 of the third period when Kasey Hiemstra scored to make it 5-3 with assist to Tanner Willick. But it was hard to watch seeing the Bulldogs miss numerous handed to them powerplay opportunities. These guys are tired and injured it is apparent they are out of gas bad.
Other Notes
Bulldogs Next game is Wednesday April 12th in Blackfalds. This could be the last Bulldogs game of the 2022-23 season and I really hope it is not.
Attendance in Blackfalds was 1248
Brooks outshot the Bandits 34-22. Ethan Barwick made 19 saves for the win for the Bandits. Matthew Hennessey faced 34 shots on the other end.
Three Stars 1) Aiden Fink 2) Luke Marshall 3) Kasey Hiemstra
In the North Final the Bonnyville Pontiacs won make it a 2-1 series lead for the Spruce Grove Saints.
