OKOTOKS, AB (September 9, 2022) – The visiting Brooks Bandits scored four straight goals to erase a 2-1 Okotoks Oilers advantage in the second period and skate to a 5-2 win on Friday night, in the final of three preseason matchups between two of the AJHL’s top franchises.
The Oilers were outshot 35-28 in the game, falling to 2-2-1 on the exhibition campaign.
Dean Spak (Calgary, AB) opened the scoring, roofing a rebound goal at 11:19 to give the home side the early advantage. But Caelan Fitzpatrick responded for Brooks with just 7 seconds left in the period to knot the game after 20 on a net front scramble.
Conyr Hellyer (Okotoks, AB) broke that tie at 2:48 of the second when he tipped a Kade Turner (Calgary, AB) point shot that was saved, but swatted home the rebound for a 2-1 Okotoks lead.
Brooks turned the tables after that, however, with Aiden Fink scoring from the side of the net at 12:33 to make it 2-2, and Heath Armstrong one-timing home the eventual game-winner at 16:55.
In the third, the Oilers were outshot 11-6 and allowed two more goals; a Dante Palombo one-timer and a Dario Beljo backdoor tap-in on the power play to seal the 5-2 final score.
The Oilers will conclude their preseason campaign on Sunday afternoon when they host the Cranbrook Bucks of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) at 4:15. Tickets are available online at tickets.okotoksoilers.ca.