The Dragons headed down highway 56 tonight to take on the second place Brooks Bandits at the Centennial Regional Arena in Brooks.
The CRA has not been friendly to the Dragons as they have not won here in the regular season in regulation. Drumheller was coming off an important home win against Canmore last night and Brooks was coming off a loss to the Okotoks Oilers also last night.
For the Dragons to win, they had to come out strong and they did so. Drumheller worked hard in the first period and were rewarded on the power play. Alex Rotundo scored his 3rd of the year from Jordan Taupert and Tyler Kreklewich to make it 1-0 Dragons. The period ended with Drumheller leading on the score sheet.
In the second, the Dragons received a 4 minute power play early on but could not convert. The Bandits gained momentum from this and turned the tables. Brooks tied it up midway through the second when Carter Wolski scored. I thought the play should had been blown down as Brady Risk was lying on the ice after a hit along the boards in his own end. Brooks continued to forecheck strong and were rewarded with a goal from Jakob Lapointe that went in off a Dragon in front. The Bandits added one more before the end of the period when Matt Cassidy fired one in off a Dragon defender again to make it 3-1 Brooks after two. Hunter Virostek kept the Dragons in the game with four or five key saves in the period.
The Dragons came out with a bit of hustle to start the third but gave Brooks an early power play. /The Bandits capitalized 24 seconds into the man advantage when Nathan Plessis scored to make it 4-1 Brooks. Drumheller battled back to get one late when Bradley Stonnell scored his first of the year from Troy Dudley and Markus Boguslavsky. Final score was 4-2 in favour of the Bandits.
Shots on Goal
Drumheller – 18
Brooks – 36
Power Play
Drumheller 1/6
Brooks 1/1
Hardest Working Dragon – Bradley Stonnell
3 Stars
Hunter Virostek (DRU)
Jake Theis (BRK)
Alex Rotundo (DRU)
Next action for your Dragons is on Friday as they host the Okotoks Oilers. Game time at the Memorial Arena is 7:30pm.
Jason Blanke
Morning Show Host – 99.5 DRUM FM
Office: 403.823.9936
www.DrumhellerOnline.com