With nothing but a gold medal in mind, the Brooks Bandits began their quest for the inaugural Crescent Point Energy Western sa国际传媒 Cup championship with a 4-2 victory over the Surrey Eagles at Nanaimo鈥檚 Frank Crane Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The Alberta Junior Hockey League champions downed their sa国际传媒 Hockey League counterparts thanks to two second-period power-play goals in the tournament opener, played before an announced crowd of 906.
The host Nanaimo Clippers dropped a 4-3 decision to the Yorkton Terriers, champs of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, in the late Saturday night start.
The tournament resumes today with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League champion Steinbach Pistons facing the Terriers at 2 p.m. and the Clippers tackling Brooks at 7 p.m at Frank Crane.
Brandon Reed opened the scoring in the first period for Brooks, while R.J. Reed and Mark Reners added power-play goals in the second for a 3-0 lead.
Brady Shaw struck early in the third period for Surrey before Bandits鈥� team leader Cam Maclise restored the three-goal advantage on a penalty shot that beat goaltender Michael Santaguida. Drew Best ended the scoring for the Eagles.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to make sure that we manage ourselves properly while we鈥檙e here,鈥� said Brooks coach Ryan Papaioannou, whose team ran off an impressive 53-4-3 record during its regular season and was ranked the No. 1 Junior A team in the country for all but one week.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 win this on the first day of the tournament. We need to take the whole thing in stride and make sure we build toward that final weekend.鈥�
Goaltender Michael Fredrick was a thief for the Bandits, stopping 40 of 42 shots, and was named the team鈥檚 player of the game, while Shaw captured the honours for the Eagles.
鈥淗e鈥檚 been solid for us all season long,鈥� Papaioannou said of Fredrick.
Defenceman Chris Muscoby had a pair of assists for Brooks, the defending AJHL champions.
Two teams from the Western sa国际传媒 Cup will advance to the Royal Bank Cup in Summerside, P.E.I., starting May 11.
