PHOTO: James McLellan
The Spruce Grove Saints played one of their better first periods of the season but followed that with one of their poorer second periods as they dropped an 8-4 score to the Brooks Bandits at Centennial Regional Arena on Friday night.
After a bit of a feeling out process in the opening five minutes, the Saints found their stride and open the scoring on a three-goal 1st period that kicked off with Declan Waddick giving Spruce Grove a 1-0 lead. Junior Podein worked the puck free below the goal line and kicked it free to Michael Azzarone in the left face-off circle, who had his shot stopped by Zach Zahara before the rebound came loose to Waddick in the slot who buried for his 7th goal of the season and a one-goal lead.
Liam Fitzpatrick tied the game for the Bandits just over the halfway point of the opening frame before, just 20 seconds later, Alexy Lachaine restored the advantage for the Saints with his 3rd goal of the season to push Spruce Grove back ahead. On a delayed penalty, Adam Perron spun a pass from the glove side to the left wing as Lachaine chipped the puck past then blocker side of Zahara to give the Saints the one-goal lead again.
Spruce Grove extended the lead to a pair before the opening period was out with Kenyon McIsaac burying his first as a Saint to push the visitors to a two-goal advantage. McIsaac chipped the puck to the net from below the goal line as he banked it off the right shoulder of Zahara and into the back of the net to give the Saints a 3-1 edge into the 2nd period.
Unfortunately for the Saints, their second period woes continued to haunt them as Spruce Grove surrendered five Bandit goals in the second period, including two on the power play, to see their lead slip away, and quickly, as Brooks scored just 16 seconds into the middle frame. Liam Fitzpatrick scored the goal and added to the tying marker for his hat-trick before Isaac Johnson gave the Bandits their first lead of the game with a stretch of goals within a 12-second span.
Jack Rosensteel added to the lead before Fitzpatrick collected his fourth goal of the contest as Brooks was able to get to Ryan De Kok, who was pulled in the Saints net in favour of Joseph Quintilio following the 6th Bandit goal as he made 8 saves on 14 shots with Spruce Grove finding themselves behind by a 6-3 score.
Johnson added his second of the game while Fitzpatrick once again found the scoresheet with his fifth tally of the night to give Brooks a big advantage before Michael Azzarone collected a goal in his third consecutive game that saw the final finish at 8-4.
The Saints will finish off their 2025 portion of the schedule on Saturday night when they travel to Sherwood Park to face-off against the Crusaders at Randy Rosen Rink. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 PM with the game being broadcasted live on the Saints Radio Network as well as streamed live on FloHockey.
