Brooks Bandits

Last updated
Brooks Bandits
Brooks Bandits logo.png
City Brooks, Alberta
League British Columbia Hockey League
ConferenceInterior
DivisionEast
Founded2000 (2000)
Home arena Centennial Regional Arena
ColoursRed, blue and white
General managerRyan Papaioannou
Head coachRyan Papaioannou
Website brooksbandits.ca

The Brooks Bandits are a Junior ice hockey team in the BCHL based in Brooks, Alberta. The teams plays its home games at the Centennial Regional Arena. The team was formerly in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), until they joined the BCHL in February 2024. [1]

Contents

History

The Brooks Bandits were awarded an expansion franchise by the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) in 1999 and began play in the 2000–01 season. The franchise secured its expansion fee through what they call "The Founding Fathers", a group of 17 local businesses and individuals who donated the money needed to finance the team in exchange for lifetime benefits with the team.[ citation needed ]

The first coach for the Brooks Bandits was Nolan Crouse. The first franchise goal was scored by Chris Boyle just under a minute into the first regular season game against the Fort McMurray Oil Barons. The team struggled though most of its first four seasons, failing to make the playoffs. In 2004, the Crowsnest Pass Timberwolves took a leave of absence for one season, and their players were dispersed, adding Judd Blackwater and Neil to the Bandits team. Under head coach Kevin Higo and players such as Brendan Connolly, Spencer Machacek, Ben Wright, and Chad Johnson, the Bandit advanced to the AJHL playoffs for the first time.

In 2008, after three successful years, Higo accepted an assistant coaching position with the Moose Jaw Warriors in the major junior Western Hockey League. With the head coach and general manager positions vacant, the Bandits hired ECHL head coach and former NHL enforcer Brian Curran. Under Curran's leadership of a hard-hitting team, the Bandits finished in first place in the South Division before losing in the cross-over division playoff finals against the Grande Prairie Storm. On October 16, 2009, Curran was released by the Bandit and replaced by assistant Ryan Papaioannou. The Bandits finished fifth in the south division in 2009–10 and a second round playoff loss. During the season on January 20, 2010, the Bandits moved from the smaller Centennial Arena in the Lakeside Leisure Centre, to the brand new Centennial Regional Arena.

In Papaioannou's second 2010–11 season, the Bandits finished second in the division, but were eliminated in the second round by the Camrose Kodiaks in seven games. In the off-season on July 5, 2011, forward Nick Crosby was killed in a car accident returning home from a Bandits camp. [2] After Crosby's death, the Bandits dedicated the 2011–12 season in his honour and retired his #23 jersey. The Bandits had statistically their best season to date with a record of 47–7–8. In the playoffs, they swept both the Calgary Canucks and the Olds Grizzlys in four games, advancing to their first league playoff championship series against the Fort McMurray Oil Barons. The Bandits won the series four games to two for their first league championship. In the Doyle Cup, the Bandits faced the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) champion Penticton Vees for the right to participate in the Junior A national championship tournament, the Royal Bank Cup. The Vees defeated the Bandits four games to one and went on to win the 2012 Royal Bank Cup Jr. A national championship.

The Bandits continued to dominate the AJHL at the start of the 2012–13 season going 20–0–0 before finally losing a game. The Bandits were one win short of tying the AJHL record for longest winning streak. The Bandits were led by captain Cam Maclise, Mark Reners, and Dakota Mason. The Bandits finished the regular season with a record of 53–4–3, breaking the AJHL record for wins in season, and points in a season (109). In all but one week (week 1), the Bandits were ranked as the number one team in Canada by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. In the playoffs, the Bandits defeated the Drumheller Dragons and Okotoks Oilers before winning a second straight AJHL championship over the Spruce Grove Saints. 2013 was the first year of the Western Canada Cup qualifying tournament to advance to the national championship and was held in Nanaimo, British Columbia. The Bandits finished first in the round-robin portion of the tournament, but lost to the Surrey Eagles 4–1 in the championship game. As the Western Canada Cup qualified two teams to the Royal Bank Cup, the Bandits played the Yorkton Terriers in the runner-up game the following day and won 1–0. They went 3–1 in the round-robin at the 2013 Royal Bank Cup and won their first Junior A national championship over the Summerside Western Capitals, becoming the first team to win the championship without either being the host or a regional champion.

They returned to the Western Canada Cup again in 2016 and 2017, winning the Western Junior A regional in 2017 and was the runner-up qualifier in 2016. They lost the 2017 Junior A national championship game in overtime to the Cobourg Cougars. The Western Canada Cup discontinued after the 2017 tournament and the AJHL qualified through the Doyle Cup again beginning in 2018. The Brooks Bandits were also selected as the host city for the 2019 National Junior A Championship. The Bandits then won the AJHL championship for a fifth time in 2019, but lost the Doyle Cup to the Prince George Spruce Kings in which both teams were also already qualified to advance to the national championship. Brooks then went undefeated in the championship tournament, winning the final game over the Spruce Kings 4–3, for their second Junior A national championship title. Brooks won the 2022 Centennial Cup in Estevan, SK by defeating the Pickering Panthers 4-1.

On January 20, 2024, the BCHL announced that five teams from the AJHL would join the BCHL in the 2024-25 season, namely, the Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders, and Spruce Grove Saints. [3] In the interim, it was decided that the five Alberta-based teams would play out the rest of the 2023-24 season as a separate division under the aegis of the BCHL, and that there would be a year-end competition with the winner of the Alberta-based teams playing the winner of the BC-based teams. [4] [5]

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T/OTL = Ties/Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Western Canada Cup

The Western Canada Cup was a postseason tournament between the playoff champions of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), and a previously selected host team from one of the leagues. It ran from 2013 to 2017 with the top two teams qualifying for the Royal Bank Cup Junior A national championship tournament. It replaced the Doyle Cup, which had been the qualifier for the AJHL and BCHL champions, and the ANAVET Cup, which had been the qualifier for the MJHL and SJHL champions. The qualifying system reverted the Doyle and ANAVET Cups in 2018.

The tournament began with round-robin play between the five team followed by the top two teams playing in championship game and the third and fourth place teams playing in a semifinal game. The loser of the championship game then faced the winner of the semifinal game for the runner-up qualifier. The winner of the championship and the runner-up game advanced to the Royal Bank Cup.

YearRound-robinRecordStandingSemifinalChampionship gameRunner-up game
2013 W, 4–2 vs. Surrey Eagles (BCHL)
L, 2–7 vs. Nanaimo Clippers (Host)
OTW, 2–1 vs. Yorkton Terriers (SJHL)
W, 3–0 vs. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL)
3–1–0
(W–L–OTL)
1st of 5L, 1–4 vs. Surrey EaglesW, 1–0 vs. Yorkton Terriers
Western Canada Cup Runner-up
2016 W, 4–2 vs. West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL)
W, 3–0 vs. Melfort Mustangs (SJHL)
W, 9–3 vs. Portage Terriers (MJHL)
W, 6–4 vs. Estevan Bruins (Host)
4–0–0–0
(W–OTW–L–OTL)
1st of 5L, 0–6 vs. West Kelowna WarriorsW, 2–1 vs. Portage Terriers
Western Canada Cup Runner-up
2017 W, 5–2 vs. Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)
SOW, 2–1 vs. Penticton Vees (Host)
W, 4–1 vs. Battlefords North Stars (SJHL)
W, 5–0 vs. Portage Terriers (MJHL)
3–1–0–0
(W–OTW–L–OTL)
1st of 5W, 6–1 vs. Chilliwack Chiefs
Western Canada Cup Champion

Junior A National Championship

The National Junior A Championship, known as the Centennial Cup and formerly as the Royal Bank Cup or RBC Cup, is the postseason tournament for the Canadian national championship for Junior A hockey teams that are members of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The tournament consists of the regional Junior A champions and a previously selected host team. Since 1990, the national championship has used a five-team tournament format when the regional qualifiers were designated as the ANAVET Cup (Western), Doyle Cup (Pacific), Dudley Hewitt Cup (Central), and Fred Page Cup (Eastern). From 2013 to 2017, the qualifiers were the Dudley Hewitt Cup (Central), Fred Page Cup (Eastern), and the Western Canada Cup champions and runners-up (Western #1 and #2).

The tournament begins with round-robin play between the five teams followed by the top four teams playing a semifinal game, with the top seed facing the fourth seed and the second facing the third. The winners of the semifinals then face each other in final game for the national championship. In some years, the losers of the semifinal games face each other for a third place game.

YearRound-robinRecordStandingSemifinalChampionship game
2013 W, 7–1 vs. Truro Bearcats (Eastern)
W, 6–3 vs. Minnesota Wilderness (Central)
L, 1–3 vs. Summerside Western Capitals (Host)
W, 5–2 vs. Surrey Eagles (Western #1)
3–0–0–1
(W–OTW–OTL–L)
1st of 5OTW, 5–4 vs. Minnesota WildernessW, 3–1 vs. Summerside Western Capitals
National Junior A Champions
2016 L, 2–3 vs. Trenton Golden Hawks (Central)
W, 5–1 vs. West Kelowna Warriors (Western #1)
W, 4–3 vs. Lloydminster Bobcats (Host)
W, 5–4 vs. Carleton Place Canadians (Eastern)
3–0–0–1
(W–OTW–OTL–L)
2nd of 5L, 1–4 vs. West Kelowna Warriors
2017 W, 6–3 vs. Terrebonne Cobras (Eastern)
OTW, 2–1 vs. Penticton Vees (Western #2)
W, 8–0 vs. Trenton Golden Hawks (Central)
L, 2–5 vs. Cobourg Cougars (Host)
2–1–0–1
(W–OTW–OTL–L)
2nd of 5W, 4–0 vs. Terrebonne CobrasOTL, 2–3 vs. Cobourg Cougars
2019
Host
W, 7–3 vs. Oakville Blades (Central)
W, 5–3 vs. Portage Terriers (Western)
W, 2–1 vs. Ottawa Jr. Senators (Eastern)
W, 3–1 vs. Prince George Spruce Kings (Pacific)
4–0–0–0
(W–OTW–OTL–L)
1st of 5W, 4–3 vs. Ottawa Jr. SenatorsW, 4–3 vs. Prince George Spruce Kings
National Junior A Champions

Notable alumni

The following alumni have gone on in their career to play in the National Hockey League or similar achievements in international hockey.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Junior Hockey League</span> Association of Canadian junior A ice hockey leagues

The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) is an association of Canadian junior A ice hockey leagues and teams and was formed in November 1993, emerging from the Canada West Association of Junior 'A' Hockey. The champion of the Canadian Junior Hockey League wins the Centennial Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Columbia Hockey League</span> Junior hockey league

The British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) is an independent Canadian Junior ice hockey league with 21 teams in British Columbia and Alberta. It was classified as a Junior "A" league, the second tier for junior hockey within the Hockey Canada framework, until it became independent in 2023. Since becoming independent, the league characterizes itself simply as a Junior ice hockey league.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centennial Cup</span> Canadian junior ice hockey championship since 1967

The Centennial Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament organized by Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), which determines the national champion of junior A ice hockey. It consists of a ten-team round robin featuring the winners of all nine CJHL member leagues as well as a pre-selected host city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doyle Cup</span> Canadian junior ice hockey trophy

The Doyle Cup was an ice hockey trophy won through a best-of-7 series conducted annually by the Canadian Junior Hockey League to determine the Pacific region berth in the Centennial Cup, the national Junior A championship. From 1971 to 2021, the series was played between the Fred Page Cup champions of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and the Enerflex Cup champions of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), except from 2013 to 2017 when it was replaced by the four-province Western Canada Cup. Its future status is uncertain because of format changes to the national championship and the BCHL's withdrawal from the CJHL after the 2020–21 season. The current trophy was donated in 1984 by Pete Doyle, a Penticton, British Columbia businessman, replacing the Pacific Centennial Cup that two leagues competed for from 1971 to 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calgary Canucks</span> Ice hockey team in Calgary, Alberta

The Calgary Canucks are a junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). They play in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with home games at the Ken Bracko Arena. They have won the AJHL championship ten times and one national championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grande Prairie Storm</span> Ice hockey team in Alberta, Canada

The Grande Prairie Storm is a junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) based in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada, with home games at Bonnetts Energy Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spruce Grove Saints</span> Ice hockey team in Spruce Grove, Alberta

The Spruce Grove Saints are a Junior ice hockey team in the BCHL. They play in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada, with home games at the Grant Fuhr Arena. The team was originally a member of the AJHL and joined the BCHL in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camrose Kodiaks</span> Junior ice hockey team

The Camrose Kodiaks are a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). They play in Camrose, Alberta, Canada, with home games in the EnCana Arena, which has a seating capacity for approximately 2300 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olds Grizzlys</span> Ice hockey team in Olds, Alberta

The Olds Grizzlys are a junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Olds, Alberta, Canada with home games at the Olds & District Sports Complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort McMurray Oil Barons</span> Ice hockey team in Fort McMurray, Alberta

The Fort McMurray Oil Barons are a Junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). They play in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada at the Centerfire Place. The Oil Barons have won three AJHL playoff championships, three regular season titles, and one National Junior A Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abbott Cup</span> Western Canada junior ice hockey award (1919–1999)

The Abbott Memorial Cup, commonly referred to as the Abbott Cup, was awarded annually from 1919 through 1999 to the Junior "A" ice hockey Champion for Western Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vernon Vipers</span> Canadian junior ice hockey team founded 1961

The Vernon Vipers are a junior "A" ice hockey team based in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). They play their home games at Kal Tire Place.

The 2009 Royal Bank Cup is the 39th Junior "A" 2009 ice hockey National Championship for the Canadian Junior Hockey League. 2009 marked the 14th year the Royal Bank Cup has been awarded and the 39th year of modern Junior "A" hockey.

The 2010 Royal Bank Cup was the 40th Junior "A" 2010 ice hockey National Championship for the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The 2010 Royal Bank Cup marked the 40th consecutive year a national championship has been awarded to this skill level since the breakaway of Major Junior hockey in 1970.

The 2011 Royal Bank Cup was the 41st Junior "A" 2011 ice hockey National Championship for the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The 2011 Royal Bank Cup marked the 41st consecutive year a national championship has been awarded to this skill level since the breakaway of Major Junior hockey in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alberta Junior Hockey League</span> Ice hockey league in Alberta, Canada

The Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) is an Alberta-based Junior A ice hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. The 2023–24 season began with 16 teams, however 5 teams did not finish the season after it was announced that they planned to join the BCHL in the 2024–25 season. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy. The playoff champions receive the Inter Pipeline Cup. The winner of the AJHL playoffs continues on to play in the Centennial Cup tournament, which determines Canadian Junior A champion.

The 2012 Royal Bank Cup was the 42nd Junior "A" 2012 ice hockey National Championship for the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The 2012 Royal Bank Cup marked the 42nd consecutive year a national championship had been awarded to this skill level since the breakaway of Major Junior hockey in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Canada Cup</span>

The Western Canada Cup (WCC); was the Junior 'A' ice hockey championship for western Canada from 2013 to 2017. The annual five-team event consisted of the host team and the champions from the four western leagues, and was used to determine the two Western seeds for the national championship, known at that time as the RBC Cup.

The 2016 Royal Bank Cup was the 46th Canadian junior A Ice Hockey National Championship for the Canadian Junior Hockey League. It was the 46th consecutive year a national championship was awarded to this skill level since the breakaway of Major Junior hockey in 1970. Hockey Canada junior hockey council chairman Brent Ladds served as chairman of the 2016 Royal Bank Cup organizing committee.

The 2018 Royal Bank Cup was the 48th Canadian junior A Ice Hockey National Championship for the Canadian Junior Hockey League and the 48th consecutive year a national championship was awarded to this skill level since the breakaway of Major Junior hockey in 1970. The tournament was played at the Prospera Centre in Chilliwack, British Columbia.

References

  1. "BCHL agrees to terms with five Alberta-based teams". bchl.ca. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  2. "Brooks Bandits Mourn the Passing of Nick Crosby". Alberta Junior Hockey League. July 8, 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-08.
  3. "BCHL agrees to terms with five Alberta-based teams". bchl.ca. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  4. "BCHL announces finalized franchise agreements and integration with five Alberta-based teams". bchl.ca. British Columbia Hockey League. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  5. "BCHL announces Alberta playoff format and BC postseason refresher". bchl.ca. British Columbia Hockey League. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
Preceded by Royal Bank Cup Champions
2013
Succeeded by
Preceded by National Junior A Championship
2019
Succeeded by
Incumbent