The Lloydminster Bandits are second-round bound after eliminating the Killam Wheat Kings in Game 5 of North Eastern Alberta Jr. B Hockey League (NEAJBHL) playoff action.
The nail in the coffin came on Feb. 23 when the Bandits beat the Wheat Kings 7-4 at the Centennial Civic Centre. The Bandits opened the best-of-seven series with a 5-0 win before a 5-4 OT loss on home.
The series travelled to Killam for Games 3 and 4 where the Wheat Kings beat the Bandits 5-4 in OT on Feb. 19 ahead of a 6-1 Bandits win on Feb. 21.
It was do-or-die for Killam when the series returned to the border city for Game 5 on Feb. 23 as the Bandits held a 3-0 lead.
Captain Joel Webb opened the scoring 30 seconds into Sunday’s game before Killam’s Chase Rombough got the equalizer.
Webb also opened second-period scoring with a power-play goal at 12:17 before Aidan Martens made it 3-1 for the Bandits at 9:47.
Jordan Gagnon got the Wheat Kings within one with a power-play goal at 7:41. Silas Reeds, however, potted a rocket from the blue line to end the second frame for a 4-2 Bandits lead.
Gagnon and Carter Hogman beat Bandits goaltender Shae Stewart in the third, Zander Varty, Jayden Plamondon and Ben Rawluk, however, also capitalized on Wheat Kings netminder Ethan Edwards for a 7-4 final.
The Bandits face the Vermilion Tigers in the second round of NEAJBHL playoffs.
Read more: Bandits/Wheat Kings tied in round one
