In a penalty-filled affair, the Alberta Junior Hockey League champion Brooks Bandits defeated the West Kelowna Warriors 4-2 Sunday at the Crescent Point Western Canada Cup in Estevan, Sask.
The Warriors, who defeated the host Bruins 2-0 in their tournament opener Saturday night, are now 1-1 at the five-team junior A regional championship.
The top two teams at the end of the round robin tournament will advance to the RBC Cup national championship May 14 to 21 in Lloydminster, Alta.
The Warriors’ undoing was the power play as the BCHL champs went just 1-for-13 with the man advantage.
Brett Mennear, with his third goal of the weekend, and Quin Foreman scored for the Warriors, who led 2-1 after the first period.
The Bandits, now 1-0 at the tournament, scored the game’s last three goals, including the winner at 19:29 of the second period.
In a feisty contest between the B.C. and Alberta champs, Brooks took 21 penalties while West Kelowna was assessed 13.
On Saturday, Matthew Greenfield stopped 30 shots as the Warriors downed Estevan 3-0. Mennear scored twice for West Kelowna.
The Warriors will return to action Tuesday when they take on the defending RBC champion Portage Terriers from Manitoba.
