In an exciting preseason hockey match, the Blackfalds Bulldogs were defeated by the Brooks Bandits with a final score reflecting the intense back-and-forth gameplay. The Bulldogs started strong, taking a 2-0 lead in the first period with goals from Brayden Gourley and Jayden Joly on a power play. However, the Bandits, quickly responded with a shorthanded goal by Liam Fitzpatrick and a power play goal by Travis Verbeek, tying the game before the first intermission. The second period saw Brooks take the lead with Verbeek’s second goal and another by Josh Wiebe, while Wolf Giles’ goal in the third kept Blackfalds in the game momentarily. Despite efforts from both teams, including additional goals from Jamie Darlison and Ryan Castle for Blackfalds, and Parker Lalonde and Will Lutic for Brooks, the Bandits clinched the win with a 7-5 scoreline, outshooting the Bulldogs 42-25. Mikkel Christensen’s performance in goal for Blackfalds was notable, saving 35 of 41 shots. The Bulldogs now prepare for their last preseason game against the Okotoks Oilers.
17 year old Calgary native Brayden Gourley opened up the scoring for the Bulldogs at 4:07 of the first period to make it a 1-0 game. The assist went to returnee and UMass-Lowell commit James Johnson. Johnson spotted Gourley with a perfect pass after a Bandits error.
Jayden Joly picks the top shelf on the Power Play to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead at 10:24 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Detroit native Nate Schaefer and former Whitecourt Wolverine Joey Melo. He scored just as the first penalty was expiring. Had Joly scored .1 second earlier the Bulldogs would of remained on the power play after the goal.
Liam Fitzpatrick responded for the Bandits shorthanded at 12:29 of the first period. The Bandits Josh Wiebe spotted Fitzpatrick after the Bulldogs goofed up on the back end. The BCHL score sheet chisled an assist to Quinn McCall. McCall did not get the second assist. It was clearly a Bulldog who set that goal up. Either way it was a nice goal the Bandits scored.
Former Whitecourt Wolverine Travis Verbeek collected the garbage on the doorstep and tied the game for the Bandits at 18:26 of the first period on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went to Liam Fitzpatrick and French Import Mathis Dufour. I remember watching Verbeek when he played with the Wolverines and the Drayton Valley Thunder and always wished he would of been a player the Bulldogs would of purged for themselves from the AJHL.
Shots on goal in the first period were 14-8 for the Bandits
Travis Verbeek made it a 3-2 Brooks game when he scored his second goal of the game at 2:23 of the second frame. The puck bounced off of Verbeek’s skate when the Bandits were down on a 2on 1. The assists on the goal went to Nathan Free and Laval, Quebec native David Patella.
Josh Wiebe scored for the Bandits to make it a 4-2 game at 12:55 of the second period. The assists on that goal went to former Bulldog Ty Gordon and Mathis Dufour.
Shots on goal in the second period were 16-7 for the Bandits
Wolf Giles gets the Bulldogs within one when he snuck one in when he effortlessly cruised by a Bandit defender. The assist on the goal went to former Whitecourt Wolverine Matthew Ronn. It seems like Wolverine Alum are having good games tonight.
Nathan Free replied back for the Bandits at 11:14 of the third period to give the Bandits a 5-3 lead. The assist on the goal went to former Bonnyville Pontiac Dante Siciliano.
Jamie Darlison gets the Bulldogs within one again at 13:16 of the third period with the assist going to Wolf Giles. It is now a 6-5 Bandits game.
Parker Lalonde was down on a 2 on 1 and tipped the puck into the net to make it a 6-4 Bandits game at 17:24 of the third period. The assists on the goal went to Nathan Free and Greensburg, Pennsylvania native Jack Rosensteel.
Will Lutic scored on the empty net from Josh Wiebe at 18:31 of the third period to give the Bandits a 7-4 lead. I have never seen the Bulldogs pull their goalie really early and have it work in their favor. EVER. in 3 years. More times than not they will score after when the lead is already too far out of reach. Maybe because the lead was too far out of reach the other team gave up and they scored? Who knows.
Ryan Castle scores at 19:03 of the third period to make it a 7-5 game. The assist on the goal went to Shane Purves.
Shots on goal in the third period were 10-8 for the Bandits with the Bandits outshooting the Bulldogs 42-25 in the game.
Noah Tegelaar who played last season with the Blind River Beavers of the NOJHL made 19 saves on the 24 shots that he faced for the win for the Bandits. For the Bulldogs Mikkel Christensen made 33 saves on the 39 shots that he faced.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Josh Wiebe 2) Wolf Giles 3) Nathan Free
Attendance in Blackfalds was 401.
Bulldogs next game is Tuesday September 17th against the Okotoks Oilers to finish of the preseason.
The Bandits have Nathan Brown on their team this season. Brown was a member of Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge Last year.
