Photo: Matthew Murnaghan/Hockey Canada

By Jesse McGowan

Bandits best Kings

Bandits swipe perfect record from Spruce Kings

May 16, 2019 | 9:42 PM

There’s a good chance that the fans at Centennial Regional Arena on Thursday night got a glimpse into what this year’s National Championship game could look like, provided the top two seeds in the tournament take care of business in Saturday’s semifinals.

The Prince George Spruce Kings and Brooks Bandits both entered into the final game of the round robin at the National Junior A Championship undefeated. Two hours and 12 minutes later, the Bandits emerged unscathed.

The host team prevailed 3-1 over the Kings, in front of a boisterous home crowd that packed the arena for the heavyweight matchup.

Carter Wolski opened the scoring for the Bandits after circling the net and slipping a wrister through Logan Neaton. The goal came with 1:23 left in the first period.

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The Kings would tie it up as the second was getting set to close. A wrister went off the hottest stick in the lineup to tie the game, as Nicholas Poisson tipped a Dylan Anhorn shot in. That gave the younger of the brothers his fourth goal of the tournament, tying him for the lead.

Just seven minutes into the third period, the tie would be broken when Andrew Lucas of the Bandits received a pass as he streaked in towards the net. Logan Neaton found himself down and stacked the pads to make the initial save, but the rebound would land on Lucas’ stick and get through for the 2-1 Bandits lead.

A shorthanded empty netter would lift the roof off the arena as Brooks sealed the deal with 22 seconds left.

The win locked in the Bandits as the top-seed after the preliminary round and enabled them to choose which semifinal they play in. The team will play in the early game at 1pm PST on Saturday against the Ottawa Jr. Senators (1-3).

The Spruce Kings will have to wait until 6 o’clock Pacific on Saturday for their semifinal against the Oakville Blades (2-2). The Kings beat the Blades 5-1 to open the tournament on Sunday.