Saturday night’s result was not the way the Cranbrook Bucks wanted to finish the home portion of their regular season schedule, taking a 4-1 loss to the Brooks Bandits.
The Bandits got their motors running midway through the first period. Back-to-back goals in short order from Caden Drury and Luke Bibby gave Brooks a 2-0 lead. The Bucks failed to gain any ground ahead of intermission.
Second period action didn’t provide anything in the way of offence for either club. The Bandits outshot Cranbrook 12-8, but the score remained at a 2-0 Bandits lead after forty minutes.
A Brooks goal from AJ Lacroix boosted the Bandits lead to 3-0 just past the five minute mark of the final frame. Cranbrook managed to get one back thanks to a Patrick Murphy breakaway, but that was as close as they would get. Any comeback hopes for Cranbrook were quashed following a Jace Lectourneau tally at 12:09 to secure a 4-1 win for the road team.
Saturday’s loss drops Cranbrook’s record to 29-21-2, Brooks outshot the Bucks 42-28. On special teams, Cranbrook’s power play went 0/6 and they finished 2/4 on the penalty kill.
The Bucks wrap up regular season play on the road next weekend, starting Friday versus Penticton.
Buck Tracks:
- Rasmus Svartstrom earns 1 assist to push point streak to 15 games
- Congrats to the Cranbrook Bucks year-end award winners: Bryce Sookro as MVP & Best Defensive Player, Jacob Fletcher for Coach’s Choice, Nick Capasso for Community Player of the Year, Jaden Cholette for Rookie of the Year and Jake Skogstad for Scholastic Player of the Year (too close to call for leading scorer)
