MACLISE SCORES HAT TRICK AS BANDITS ROUT BEARCATS IN RBC OPENER

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. – Cam Maclise scored three times, all in a five-goal second period, as the Brooks Bandits opened the 2013 RBC Cup with a 7-1 win over the Truro Bearcats on Saturday afternoon.

The seven goals scored by the Bandits were the most by a team in its first-ever RBC Cup game since the Chilliwack Chiefs scored the same number in an 8-7 double-overtime loss to the Rayside Balfour Sabrecats at the 2000 tournament.

Dakota Mason, Anthony Paskaruk, Tanner Hicks and Nick Newman had the other goals for Brooks, which equaled its largest offensive output of the playoffs, and did it before the end of the second period.

Maclise, who led the Bandits in scoring in the regular season and playoffs, scored 22 seconds apart on both ends of a five-on-three power play early in the second period before completing his hat trick nine minutes later. He also added an assist.

Paskaruk had two assists to go along with his goal, and the third member of Brooks’ top line, Anthony Petruzzelli, added two helpers of his own.

Jordan Coccimiglio scored the lone goal for Truro, spoiling Michael Fredrick’s shutout bid on a power play nine minutes into the third period.

After the Bearcats carried the play in the game’s early minutes, hitting two posts and getting three power play opportunities in the first 10 minutes, Brooks opened the scoring when Mason walked around a Truro defender and beat Shayne Campbell through the five-hole.

Paskaruk doubled the lead four minutes later, driving the net and tipping home a pass from Petruzzelli to send the Bandits to the dressing room up two goals.

The floodgates opened in the second period, with Hicks making it 3-0 just 26 seconds into the middle frame before Maclise scored a pair in quick succession. Nick Newman pushed the lead to 6-0 at 5:17, ending Campbell’s day.

Maclise capped the Bandits’ scoring with his hat trick marker, the lone puck to beat Jacob Fancy.

Coccimiglio tucked in the rebound on a Bearcats man advantage at 8:52 of the third period, the lone bright spot for the East Region champions.

Campbell and Fancy combined to make 20 saves in the Truro goal, while Fredrick turned aside 17 of 18 to record the win for Brooks.

Both teams are back on the ice Sunday – the Bearcats face the Surrey Eagles in the day’s early game (3 p.m. AT), while the Bandits take on the Minnesota Wilderness in the night cap (7:30 p.m. AT).