The first game of 2025 for the Cranbrook Bucks was an entertaining affair, resulting in a 5-4 shootout win over the Brooks Bandits.
Brooks got the early jump in the first period. A goal from Matej Teply on a Bandits rush at 8:45 put Brooks up 1-0. Cranbrook quickly responded and vaulted into a 1-1 tie with a Rasmus Svartstrom one-timer off a faceoff win at 10:42. The Bandits regained their lead in the final minute of the first period via Caden Drury’s 5th goal of the season, putting the road team up 2-1 at intermission.
Cranbrook put together a big second period. The home team tallied three goals from Jacob Fletcher, Bryce Sookro and Svartstrom’s second tally of the night to turn the tables on Brooks and giving the Bucks a 4-2 lead after forty minutes.
A quick third period flurry from Brooks tied the game. Goals came less than forty seconds apart from Parker Lalonde and Michal Lischinsky to leave the game at a 4-4 stalemate. Neither team found the net through the remaining minutes of regulation, and both sides failed to score through ten minutes of 3-on-3 overtime which prompted a shootout finish. Bucks goalie Jaden Cholette turned aside all three Bandits shooters, while Bryce Sookro netted the game winner for Cranbrook to secure a 5-4 shootout victory.
Friday’s win lifts Cranbrook’s record to 17-12-1, Brooks outshot the Bucks 46-45. On special teams, Cranbrook’s power play went 1/6 and the penalty kill finished 5/5.
The Bucks and Bandits meet again Saturday night in Alberta to finish their home and home.
Buck Tracks:
- 2 goals, 1 assist for Rasmus Svartstrom. Leads BCHL with 24 goals.
- 1g, 2a for Jacob Fletcher
