BROOKS, AB (September 10, 2021) ““ The Okotoks Oilers fell for the first time in the 2021 preseason on Friday night, dropping a 6-4 decision on the road to the Brooks Bandits.
The Oilers were outshot 40-22 in the game but kept the deficit within two goals for most of the game”™s duration.
It was Okotoks that took the first lead, when Rieger Lorenz (Calgary, AB) scored on a rebound just 3:05 into the game. But Brooks responded with two quick ones from Ryan McAllister and Devin Phillips in the span of just over two minutes late in the frame to take a one-goal lead after 20, holding a 15-5 shot lead as well.
In the second, Brooks extended the lead on an early power play before Ethan Jamernik (Calgary, AB) converted on the Oilers man advantage to pull back within one goal. But Heath Armstrong of Brooks scored at the 7:15 mark to reclaim the two goal advantage for the home side.
In the third, Riley Bodnarchuk (Okotoks, AB) scored on a well placed wrister from the left circle to again make it a one-goal game. But Brooks scored back to back in less than a minute on goals by McAllister and Aiden Fink to make it 6-3, before Lorenz got one back with another power play goal with 15 seconds left in the game, notching the 6-4 final.
Goalies Austin Zavoda (Hershey, PA) and Parker Sawka (Cochrane, AB) split the game, with Zavoda stopping 22 of 26 shots and Sawka 11 of 14.
The teams will meet again Saturday night to finish off the preseason in De Winton at the Scott Seaman Sports Rink at 7:00 PM.