2019 NJAC Recap: May 19

The Brooks Bandits are national Junior A champions, riding a three-goal first period to a win over the Prince George Spruce Kings despite a furious comeback by the BCHL champions in the final 20 minutes.

BROOKS BANDITS 4, PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS 3
Simon Boyko opened and closed the scoring for the Bandits, and the hosts held off a frantic third-period push to edge the Spruce Kings. William Lemay and Nathan Plessis also scored in the opening frame for Brooks, which won its second national title six years to the day it claimed its first in Summerside, P.E.I.

“This means everything. I don’t know if there will be another game here for a long time that will be as special as this. For as much as [the fans] have supported us for the last 10 years, for us to be able to give them a win on home ice it means as much to them as it does to our players.”
-- Ryan Papaioannou, Brooks head coach, on winning in front of friends, family and fans

LEADING SCORERS
Dylan Anhorn (Prince George) 1G 7A 8P
Nick Poisson (Prince George) 6G 0A 6P
Ben Brar (Prince George) 3G 3A 6P
Luke Bast (Brooks) 2G 4A 6P
Ryan Mahshie (Brooks) 2G 4A 6P

LEADING GOALTENDERS
Logan Neaton (Prince George) 4-2 / 1.51 GAA / .938 SV%
Pierce Charleson (Brooks) 6-0 / 2.33 GAA / .885 SV%
Francis Boisvert (Ottawa) 1-4 / 2.68 GAA / .916 SV%
Chris Elliot (Oakville) 1-0 / 3.43 GAA / .879 SV%
Nathan Moore (Portage) 0-3 / 3.51 GAA / .894 SV%

STAR OF THE DAY
Simon Boyko – Brooks Bandits

NEXT GAME
2020 National Junior A Championship – May 9-17 – Portage la Prairie, Man.