Despite valiant effort by the Chiefs, Brooks Bandits win BCHL Finals in Chilliwack Sunday night

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CHILLIWACK — Despite a valiant effort by the Chiefs all six games, the Brooks Bandits are the champions of the BC Hockey League.

A 6-2 win over the Chilliwack Chiefs Sunday night at the Coliseum in Chilliwack cemented the Bandits first ever Fred Page Cup in their first year as members of the BCHL.

The Chiefs jumped out to two separate leads in the first period, scoring a power-play marker just 54 seconds in, then regaining the lead for a a second time midway through the frame, but the Bandits battled back each time and took the lead for good on Peluso’s first of the game with 1:03 to play in the opening frame.

Bandit’s forward Parker Lalonde was named the winner of the Jeff Tambellini Trophy as the playoff’s Most Valuable Player.

Bandits defencemen and team captain Ethan Beyer accepted the Fred Page Cup from BCHL Commissioner Steven Cocker before being swarmed by his teammates.

The championship victory capped a post season that saw the Bandits lose just 5 times in 21 games.

In spite of the loss, Barry Douglas, governor and vice-president of operations for the Chilliwack Chiefs, applauded the entire Chiefs organization for a successful season – and congratulated the Bandits on their win.

“Feeling really grateful to our Chilliwack Chiefs players and staff for delivering an incredible season on and off the ice,” Douglas said. “And congratulations to the Brooks Bandits for winning their 1rst Fred Page Cup in the BCHL. And thank you to everyone who supported our organization this season, we wouldn’t have made the Finals without you.”