It was a hard-fought contest but the Brooks Bandits eventually ran away with a 6-3 victory in Game 4 of the AJHL south division semifinal series, sweeping the Olds Grizzlys on March 18.
For the first time this series, the Grizzlys managed to take a lead against the Bandits when they were up 2-1 after the first period on goals from Kyle Moore and Chayden Lauber.
But the Bandits scored twice more in the second period and 18 seconds into the third period without any response from the Grizzlys.
The Grizzlys closed in on Brooks' lead midway in the third period when Olds forward Kyle Star cut from the corner to the front of the Bandits net and scored, slimming the lead to 4-3.
But less than 30 seconds later, Bandits forward Alex Roberts stunted the Grizzlys push by willing himself through defenders and snapping a wrist shot past Olds goalie Ethan Jemieff to make the score 5-3.
With less than three minutes to go in the third period, Grizzlys defenceman Jack Goranson was called for a hit to the head on a collision in the neutral zone. He was given two minutes and a 10-minute misconduct.
On the ensuing power play, Brooks forward Anthony Petruzzelli's wrist shot found its way through a screen and into the twine for his second goal of the game, icing the series.
The Grizzlys played the final frame without forward Austin Kernahan, who was ejected from the game following a hit behind the Brooks net. The play, which occurred with less than two minutes to go in the second period, saw Kernahan assessed a five-minute major for checking from behind and a game misconduct.
Grizzlys head coach Brett Hopfe said he thought it was a hard but normal hit. He added that losing Kernahan left a hole on their roster.
ìWhenever we lose anybody off our roster, it leaves a void,î he said. ìWhenever you lose one member of your team, it hurts the whole group itself.î
The Bandits outscored the Grizzlys 24-10 in the series.
ìThey're a first-place team. They won a championship last year. They're well coached and they're fast. We tried our best to counter it and be physical,î said Grizzlys captain Spencer Dorowicz, who hails from Olds. ìYou've got to give it to them. We gave it all we had and they capitalized on their chances and we paid for it. But props to them, they're a good team.î
Following handshakes with the opposing team, the Grizzlys departed to a standing ovation from the crowd. They ended the evening with a salute to the fans and a slow skate to the dressing rooms.
The season finale was also a time for members of the team to reflect on their season. Hopfe said that for him and the coaching staff, seeing the players' growth was the highlight of his year.
ìMoving players on to the next level. That's something we take pride in,î he said. ìIn my mind, moving these kids on, this is a development league, it's not the NHL where you're forced to win every year.î
"If you're going to push guys on to the next level that's as good as a ring on my finger. I know the whole coaching staff feels that way."
Dorowicz scored 40 goals in the regular season and recorded 75 points, putting him in a tie for first place in points in the AJHL.
"It was a dream year for me. I did not ever expect to have the season I did,î he said. "This year, the puck seemed to go in for me and I just kept the ball rolling as I went along and it was a lot of fun and I couldn't ask for anything else."
The 2013-14 season was also one fraught with off-ice uncertainty. Saddled with more than $100,000 of debt and scrambling to find 500 season-ticket holders, there is speculation that this year could be the Grizzlys' last.
However, Hopfe is confident that the team will be back.
"If you've been in the league for 33 years, there's a reason. People will always come forward and help out this club. The town sure will be empty without it here,î he said. ìI don't see that happening. There's a lot of great people who want to support this organization."
What's more, Dorowicz, who is graduating from junior hockey to play for Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, said that the team is going to thrive.
ìThe coaches, they recruited great players, great young kids who are going to make an impact the next year,î he said.
ìThey're going to have a great team next year.î
Brooks will go on to play the winner of the Drumheller Dragons-Canmore Eagles series.
