Bandits split weekend with Chiefs, Rangers

The Lloydminster Bandits must work their way back to the top spot after a win and loss weekend.

Playing out of the North Eastern Alberta Jr. B Hockey League, the Bandits (20-6-1) beat the Onion Lake Border Chiefs (0-27) 13-0 and lost 9-7 to the Vegreville Rangers (13-12-1).

Maddux Woodbury got things rolling at home against Onion Lake on Jan. 10 with a goal at 7:16 in the first period. Adryan Bugiera made it 2-0 with a short-handed goal with 5:19 remaining in the opening frame.

The second saw goals from George Mann, Royce Dodsworth, a second from Woodbury, Joel Webb, Jaxon Rutley and Aden Stratton. Bugiera also snuck two more past Border Chiefs’ netminder Rex Baxendale for a hat trick.

Heading into the third with a 10-0 lead, the Bandits didn’t slow down. Webb capitalized with a short-handed goal at 17:37 before Mann got his second of the night at 5:57. Hungry for a hat trick of his own, Webb tickled the twine with 44 seconds remaining in regulation for a 13-0 final.

Jan. 11’s loss in Vegreville, although high scoring, didn’t go as the Bandits’ planned.

Tysen Tomlinson got the Rangers on the board early in the first before teammate Ryle Dubitz made it a 2-0 game. The Bandits, however, bounced back with goals from Corvan Stewart, Maddux Woodbury and Kade Dennett for a 3-2 game going into the first intermission.

The second saw goals from Webb and Bugiera before Vegreville’s Austin Boser, Dawson Bilyk (2) and Carson Pewarchuk capitalized on Bandits’ netminder Andrew Kries.

Both teams hit the ice for the third with fire in their bellies. Vegreville’s Ethan Bast, however, got first blood on the power play 40 seconds into the frame.

Lloydminster’s Corvan Stewart followed at 14:09 making it a 7-6 game for the Rangers. Bilyk made it 8-6 for the Rangers on the power play at 2:53 before Webb answered 30 seconds later. Down by a goal, the Bandits gave it their all before Tomlinson scored an empty-netter with 1:15 to go.

The Bandits host the Cold Lake Ice at the Centennial Civic Centre on Jan. 17 before heading to Killam on Jan. 18.

The Bandits are on the road until Feb. 1 to host the Rangers.

Read more: Bandits kick Wheat Kings to curb

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Taylor Weaver
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