The Brooks Bandits showed why they are the top ranked Junior A team in the country Saturday night.
With a dominant 6-1 win over the British Columbia Hockey League's Chilliwack Chiefs at the South Okanagan Event Centre in Penticton, B.C., the Alberta Junior Hockey League champions captured the Western Canada Cup title for the first time in franchise history and did so by going a perfect 5-0 for the week.
The Bandits had previously won the second place game at the tournament in 2013 and 2016 after losing the championship contest.
Conner Jean led the way with a second period hat trick, while Josh McKechney and Cale Makar both had a pair of assists.
Parker Foo scored a goal and set up another for the Bandits, who also had goals from Arnaud Vachon and Oliver Chau.
Goaltender Mitchel Benson, who was named the tournament MVP at Friday's awards gala, had another strong outing as he made 29 saves.
Justin Dixson had the only goal of the game for the Chiefs, who received a 26-save performance from netminder Mark Sinclair.
With the win the Bandits will now head to the RBC Cup, which takes place in Cobourg, Ont. from May 13-21.
Joining them, along with the host Cobourg Cougars of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, will be the Trenton Golden Hawks.
The Golden Hawks won the Dudley Hewitt Cup tournament Saturday on their home ice in a 2-1 affair over the Georgetown Raiders, who beat the Golden Hawks in a seven-game OJHL final last week.
The Chiefs still have a chance to earn a spot at the RBC Cup tomorrow afternoon when they take on the Western Canada Cup host Penticton Vees for the 11th time this season.
The Vees, who won the BCHL title in Chilliwack's rink almost two weeks ago, advanced to the runner-up game with a 4-0 win over the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League's Battlefords North Stars Saturday afternoon.
The final spot in the RBC Cup tournament will also be decided Sunday when the Central Canada Hockey League's Carleton Place Canadians take on the Quebec Junior Hockey League's Terrebonne Cobras in the Fred Page Cup final in Terrebonne, Que.
