The Okotoks Oilers gave the number one team in the country all it could handle, but it wasn't enough.
Okotoks' bid for a first championship was put to bed after the host Brooks Bandits held on for a 2-1 win Tuesday night in Game 7 to win the Alberta Junior Hockey League South final series 4-3.
The defending champion Bandits took control of the game early as hard-hitting winger Brandon Bruce put the 2,583 fans in Brooks out of their seats with the opening marker with 5:06 remaining in the first. Linemates RJ Reed and Patrick Lee picked up the helpers.
The trio would be back at it late in the middle frame when Reed buried a rebound past Jared D'Amico to double the Bandits' advantage with just 1:25 left in the period. Lee and Bruce, who ironically was acquired mid-season from Merritt in exchange for Okotoks native Sam Johnson, picked up the assists.
Facing the prospects of the end of their season, the Oilers emptied the tank in the final 20 minutes and threw everything but the kitchen sink at Brooks netminder Michael Fredrick.
Their persistence finally bore fruit when playoff sensation John Edwardh tallied his 13th goal of the postseason on the powerplay with just 3:24 left on the clock.
It would be as close as the Oilers would get. Fredrick shut the door on any designs of a late Okotoks comeback, stopping 32 pucks to win the series for Brooks.
Game 7 was the Oilers' second opportunity in three days to advance to the league finals.
The Bandits staved off elimination in Game 6 in Okotoks on Sunday night. The Oilers clawed back from a two-goal deficit with goals from Cody Michelle and Tanner Olstad to tie the game at 2-2, sending it to overtime.
Brooks captain Cam Maclise secured the victory for the Bandits, scoring 2:49 into the extra session to send the series back to Brooks.
The postseason halt marked the end of the Junior careers for Oilers stalwarts and graduating players Scott Bolland, Greg Lamoureux, Tanner Olstad, Cody Michelle, Chris Collins and Keith Hamilton.
Blueliner Robert Hamilton also completed his Junior career as the 19-year-old will start his collegiate career with the Vermount Catamounts in the fall.
Brooks moves on to face the Spruce Grove Saints in the Gas Drive Cup. The schedule for the Alberta Junior Hockey League finals has yet to be released. Go to ajhl.ca for the latest.
