Saints Battle Back But Fall 6-4 To Bandits

By Terry Martin

The Spruce Grove Saints looked to bounce back tonight after a loss last night in their first game of the AJHL showcase against the Okotoks Oilers. The Saints would battle the Brooks Bandits, in the primetime matchup of day two.

In the first period both teams would trade power plays but the Bandits would capitalize first as Boston Buckberger scored from the slot. Niko Jovanovic would then take advantage of a Bandits turnover and bury the puck to tie the game in the later half of the period. Final shots in the frame would favour Brooks 12-10.

The 2nd period saw the Bandits score just seconds after the faceoff, TJ Hughes found himself on a breakaway and would score glove side. Boston Buckberger would get his second goal of the game after some sustained pressure from the Bandits, scoring low glove side. The Saints would bounce back as Hunter Brown would score his first AJHL goal to cut the Bandits lead to 3-2. Final shots in the period were 25-14 for Brooks.

Caiden Gault would one-time the puck home within the first minute of the third period on a power play to tie the game 3-3. Devin Phillips would score on a breakaway just three minutes later to put Brooks up 4-3. TJ Hughes would get his second goal of the game on a power play after a tic-tac-toe play. Caiden Gault would score from the slot after a similar passing play to cut the Bandits lead to 5-4. Hunter Wallace would then come back and score to restore the Bandits two goal lead. The Saints would fall 6-4 in tonight’s contest. The final shots in the game were 37-23 in favour of the Bandits.

The Spruce Grove Saints will be back in action on Tuesday, when they head to Drayton Valley to take on the Thunder.