The HDC Bandits emerged victorious in a wild, penalty-filled affair, defeating the Gorillas Hockey Academy ORANGE by an 8-5 score. The game was a back-and-forth offensive showcase from the opening faceoff, with the Bandits ultimately pulling away in a chaotic third period. The Gorillas showed resilience, fighting back from multiple deficits, but a relentless Bandits attack proved too much to handle in the end.
The tone was set early with a flurry of goals and penalties. The Bandits struck first when Hunter Murphy found the net, but the Gorillas' Ryan Stanley answered just twelve seconds later to tie it at 1-1. The physicality escalated, leading to a series of cross-checking and roughing minors. The second period was a special teams rollercoaster. Mason Gackle gave the Bandits the lead again, only for Grayson Geers to score a shorthanded goal, assisted by Murphy. The Gorillas responded with a shorthanded tally of their own from Beckham LaBossiere, set up by Andres Sider. But with the man advantage, Geers struck again for his second of the game, showcasing the special teams battle. Harvey MacIntyre brought the Gorillas back within one before the period ended, assisted by Stanley.
Any hope of a Gorillas comeback was extinguished in a frenetic final frame. Jett Ranslam scored on the power play early to make it 4-5, but the Bandits then unleashed a decisive three-goal barrage. Jett Gaulton, Bronson Woods with the game-winner, and Wyatt MacLeod, who had a goal and an assist, stretched the lead to 8-4. Rowan Ellsworth added another even-strength marker. The Gorillas' Jadon Mak managed a late shorthanded goal, his second assist coming from Sider, but it was merely a consolation. The Bandits' offense, which saw nine different players hit the scoresheet, overwhelmed the Gorillas despite being outshot 36-27, with key contributions from Cruise Dawe with two assists and a balanced attack that capitalized on their chances to secure the win.
