Bandits Take Game One

Published on April 1, 2011 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
St. Louis Bandits News Release


The St. Louis Bandits entered game one of the North Division semi-finals with history on their side. They had won three of the last four championships and been to four straight Robertson Cup tournaments. Janesville, however, despite making the playoffs in their first year of existance was swept by the Traverse City North Stars. In their three games of playoff experiene, the Jets only managed one goal.

Thus, the Bandits were looking to keep things rolling. The Jets were looking to change their post season success rate and in the early stages of the first period it seemed as though they were ready to do so. Alex Brooks spiked a shot from the point off the end wall. It took a fortunate bounce right to Ross Mauermann at the right side of the net. Mauermann knocked it in past the diving Tom Comunale to put the Jets up 1-0. That lead held up for the next eight minutes of the period, but it was not to last.

The Bandits would not be outdone on home ice, where they had won 21 times during the regular season. At the 11:09 mark of the opening period, RJ Kleiman was able to slip the puck underneath the sprawled David Jacobson to tie the game 1-1. St. Louis would strike again early in the second. Joe Kalisz took the rebound off a Patrick Sheehan shot and got the goalie to dive out of position. After that it was just slipping the puck into an empty net to put the Bandits up 2-1. The score would remain there until the third period.

Quickly, the Bandits would light the lamp again. 2:30 into the last period, Isak Quakenbush deflected in a Chris Ciotti blast for the powerplay goal and a 3-1 lead. The Jets would not go quietly into the night however. With the goaltender on the bench and only 56 seconds left, John Olen slapped one into the back of the net to cut the lead to one. There were several scrambles in the last minute of play, but the Jets never really threatened again.

Both teams had powerplay goals, however there were only 8 combined powerplays overall. With the win, the Bandits take the early 1-0 lead in the series. Isak Quakenbush was named the game's number one star, scoring the game winning goal. Patrick Sheehan, who had 11 assists in last year's playoffs (12 points), continued his helping ways with an assist on Joe Kalisz' goal. The puck will drop on game two at 7:05 Saturday, April 1.



North American Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2011


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