The Cranbrook Bucks wanted to make a statement versus the Brooks Bandits Friday night, and their 6-3 win is doing most of the talking.
Both teams came out with plenty of energy in the first period, with Brooks outshooting the Bucks 13-10. However, it was the Bucks who were able to secure the lone goal thanks to a point blast from Jack MicMinn at 7:11 to lift Cranbrook to a 1-0 lead. The Bucks were able to hold on to that lead through intermission.
A penalty-filled second period saw both teams finding the twine. Cranbrook added goals from Pat Murphy and Rasmus Svartstrom, while Brooks answered with tallies from AJ Lacroix and Liam Fitzpatrick. The Bucks were up 3-2 after forty minutes.
The Bandits pulled into a tie early in the first period with a second goal from Lacroix, making the score 3-3 at the forty-five second mark. The stalemate would not last, the Bucks managed to add three more goals, one from Murphy and two more from Svartstron, to secure a 6-3 road win versus the Bandits.
Friday’s win lifts Cranbrook’s record to 22-15-2, the Bucks were outshot 36-26. On special teams, Cranbrook finished 0/2 on the power play and 2/4 on the penalty kill.
The Bucks continue their road trip Saturday night versus the Sherwood Park Crusaders.
Buck Tracks:
- 1st BCHL goal for Jack McMinn.
- Rasmus Svartstrom with a hattrick to push BCHL-leading goal total to 33, adds 2 assists for 5 points.
- 2 goals for Pat Murphy.
