2017 RBC Cup

MAPPIN SCORES IN OVERTIME, BANDITS EDGE VEES IN RBC THRILLER

JASON LA ROSE

COBOURG, Ont. – Ty Mappin was the hero 3:17 into overtime, keeping the Brooks Bandits unbeaten at the 2017 RBC Cup with a 2-1 extra-time win over the Penticton Vees on Sunday afternoon.

Mappin played give-and-go with Dennis Cesana, feeding the defenceman at the point before going to the net to redirect a picture-perfect cross-ice pass behind Penticton goaltender Mathew Robson.

It was the second time the Bandits and Vees had reached overtime in the last two weeks; Brooks earned a 4-3 shootout win when the teams met April 30 at the Western Canada Cup in Penticton.

Parker Foo had the other goal for Brooks, which has won 14 straight games dating back to the AJHL semifinals, and hasn’t lost in regulation time since Feb. 25, a span of 24 games.

The game went end-to-end from the drop of the first puck, with both teams generating chances, although shots on goal in the opening period were only 8-6, in favour of the Vees.

Penticton started the scoring with just over two minutes left in the first; Ryley Risling carried the puck behind the Brooks net before throwing it in front, where Foo – trying to clear it to the corner – inadvertently knocked it past goaltender Mitch Benson to put the Vees up 1-0 after one.

The defensive struggle continued through the second period, with Brooks holding a 9-5 advantage in shots on goal. Tyler Carangelo had the best chance in the final minute, but was turned away by the right pad of Robson.

The Bandits were not to be denied, though, and Foo atoned for his earlier mistake early in the final period.

With Brooks on the power play, Cale Makar faked a shot and hurdled a sliding Penticton defender before getting a wrist shot on Robson. The rebound popped onto the stick of Foo, who went far-side to tie the game just 33 seconds into the final stanza.

The Bandits pressed as time ticked away, but Robson made 11 of his 31 saves in the third period.

With the loss, Penticton has now dropped its opening game in all five of its appearances at Canada’s National Junior A Championship (1985, 1986, 2012, 2015, 2017), although it rebounded to win the national title in 1986 and 2012.

Brooks is off Monday, returning to the ice Tuesday afternoon to take on the Trenton Golden Hawks (3:30 p.m. ET), while the Vees will meet the host Cobourg Cougars in the lone game Monday (7:30 p.m. ET).