Ten seconds is all it took to completely change the complexion of the South Final.
The Brooks Bandits scored twice in the final minute of regulation and three times in the final four minutes to shock the Okotoks Oilers 3-2 in Game 2 Saturday night at Pason Centennial Arena to earn the split in the AJHL semifinal.
“We’re pumped. They were going for 30 wins in a row and hadn’t lost in 2018 so it’s a big win for us morale wise,” said Bandits captain Dennis Cesana. “We knew it was going to be tough to come in here and win both games so a split is as much as we could ask for.”
Especially given the 2-0 series deficit staring them in the face.
The Oilers were in the driver’s seat through 55 minutes of Game 2. Tanner Laderoute opened the scoring on a first period breakaway tally and Austin Wong doubled the lead 13 seconds into the final frame on a cross-crease feed from Kyle Gordon.
Only in the final five minutes did penalty trouble catch up with the hosts.
Cesana broke the shutout on a 5-on-3 powerplay, joining the rush and picking the far corner with just 3:04 remaining.
“I saw the opportunity on the breakout and took it,” Cesana said. “It kind of rolled from there. (Game 1) they got a few lucky bounces on their goals and I think it was about time we got ours.”
Cesana was at the centre of the tying goal. With the extra-attacked, the blueliner’s slap-shot from the point was tipped in by Mack Hancock with 54 seconds left in regulation.
They were celebrating another goal just 10 seconds later.
Jake Theis put the finishing touches on the stunning comeback, winning a foot race down the ice and depositing the game winner to put a screeching halt to Okotoks’ 29-game winning streak that stretched back to late-December.
“They had a lot of momentum, scored that one goal on the 5-on-3, got one with the goalie pulled and then we just lost our assignment when the game was tied,” said Oilers head coach Tyler Deis. “When that happens you’ve got to have short memories in this game and be strong enough to be pull through.
“The kids are young, it’s experience and we mentioned that whatever the circumstances are you’ve got to make sure you go out there and have a positive head and make sure of what your assignments are.”
Okotoks took the series opener by a 4-1 score on Friday night.
Marc Pasemko and Gordon scored in the first period and Nick Blankenburg and Laderoute added insurance tallies in the Game 1 triumph.
The series moves east for the next two. The Brooks Centennial Regional Arena plays host to Game 3 and 4 on April 2 and 3. Both games are 7 p.m. starts. Game 5 is back in Okotoks on April 6.
Okotoks won all three of its road games in Brooks during the regular season.
“It’s a series,” Deis said. “You’ve got to have short memories. Brooks had that yesterday and they still feel like they can win and we have to have the same thought.
“I don’t think there is much home-ice advantage. We can play well in their rink and they can play well in our rink.”
For more information go to okotoksoilers.ca
