Bandits Improve to 2-0 Thanks to a Shutout Win Over Melfort
By Jeromy Corrigan - DiscoverEstevan
The Brooks Bandits and the Melfort Mustangs collided Monday night at the Crescent Point Western Canada Cup as they were the lone teams in action.
Brooks would come out flying in the first period and they would be rewarded early with a fortunate bounce. Jeff Malott would receive a pass on the left wing and come in and wire a wrist shot which ended up going off of Richard Palmer's mask straight up into the air and behind him to give the Bandits a 1-0 lead. The Bandits would add to their lead just under five minutes later as Tyrell Mappin would undress the defender and find Malott back door for a tap in to double Brooks' lead. The goal was Malott's third goal of the tournament. Brooks would continue to press in the frame. Late in the period Jared Cockrell would pick up the puck on the right win and snipe one high over the shoulder of Richard Palmer to make it 3-0 Brooks. They would take that advantage into the 2nd period with the shots 12-4 in favour of Brooks.
The middle frame was more even between the two clubs as both Melfort and Brooks would get a few opportunities to find the back of the net. However, overall it was a rather tentative period between the two teams and as a result neither team would find the back of the net in the frame.
The third would be much of the same, but Melfort would take a few major penalties. Eric Sinclair would receive a five minute major for boarding and a game misconduct. Brooks would head to the power play and would generate a few offensive chances, but were unable to beat Richard Palmer. Late in the game Melfort's top line of Boyer, Frei, and Mayan almost found the back of the net on a pretty passing play, but it rang right off the pipe. In the final couple of minutes of the game Craig Leverton would receive a five minute major for cross-checking and a game misconduct. Brooks finished the game on the power play, but they didn't need it as they walked away with a 3-0 win.
With the win the Brooks Bandits improve to 2-0 at the tournament and are now in a tie for first with Portage. " We were alright in the first 10 minutes. After that it was kind of a met for us. " shared Head Coach and GM Ryan Papaioannou after the game. Papaioannou added he thought his team took the foot off the gas pedal after they got their lead Monday night. Tyrell Mappin was named player of the game for Brooks. " We'll just get ready for Portage and we will be better for that game. "
On the flip side Melfort suffers its second loss of the tournament as they drop to 0-2. " I thought the start was a combination of things. I thought we were standing around in the neutral zone and watching them too much in the first period. " stated Head Coach Trevor Blevins. However, Blevins noted after the they gave up the 3-0 lead he liked what he saw out of his hockey club.
On Tuesday the Portage Terriers will battle the West Kelowna Warriors, and the Estevan Bruins meet the Melfort Mustangs.
Click on the link below to read the origianl article and also tolisten to post game interviews.
