(Blackfalds Bulldogs website)

By Alessia Proietti

Rough one

Bulldogs face grave 7-2 loss against the Bandits on road trip

Feb 23, 2024 | 9:55 PM

The Blackfalds Bulldogs had a grave 7-2 loss against the Brooks Bandits on Friday night at the Centennial Regional Arena.

The game marks the second of four road trip games over a three-week period, with their first as a win 6-3 against the Crusaders on Monday.

The Bandits opened the scoreboard 1-0 in the first period when Mirko Buttazzoni earned a goal on Bulldogs goaltender Wilson Maxfield at 5:15.

Around two minutes later, Liam Fitzpatrick doubled the home team’s lead to 2-0.

However, with Brook’s Keith McInnis on a penalty for tripping, Blackfalds’ Brendan Ross scored his seventh goal of the BCHL season off a rebound on the doorstep of Bandits netminder Sam Scopa. Dakota MacIntosh assisted the power play goal at 9:20, cutting their deficit to 2-1.

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Even with Brooks’ Brock Souch in the box for interfering from the bench, McInnis still managed to score a goal for the team, shorthanded, at 15:45, pushing their lead 3-1.

The Bandits were greatly outshooting the Bulldogs 15-9 after 20 minutes of play.

Just passed the halfway point of the second period, Brooks’ Josh Wiebe increased their lead 4-1.

With two minutes left in regulation, the Bandits’ Logan Sawyer scored a goal for a 5-1 lead against the Bulldogs.

Brooks outshot Blackfalds again in the middle frame 14-3.

The Bulldogs swapped out goaltender Maxfield for Gabe Gratton at the start of the final period.

But at 8:17, the Bandits’ Buttazzoni scored a goal, making their lead 6-1.

With Blackfalds’ Jayden Joly sent to the box for high-sticking, Brooks’ Hunter Wallace capitalized on the man advantage at 14:40. The power play goal gave the home team a 7-1 lead.

Just 13 seconds later, the Bulldogs’ Luke Dahlen scored his third this season from the left circle. With Ryan Neumann getting the helper, the team was now behind 7-2.

Blackfalds outshot Brooks 13-11 this time in the final period.

Shots on goal

BFB: 25

BRK: 40

Power play

BFB: 1/8

BRK: 1/7

Three stars

1^st: Keith McInnis (BRK) – 1G, 2A

2^nd: Mirko Buttazzoni (BRK) – 2G

3rd: Brendan Ross (BFB) – 1G

The Bandits remain in first place this BXHL season with a record of 7-1-0-0 while the Bulldogs sit in third at 4-3-1-0.

The Bulldogs will continue their road trip to play against the Spruce Grove Saints on Wednesday at the Grant Fuhr Arena. Face off is at 7 p.m. with the broadcast live on Mixlr.

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