The first-place Brooks Bandits extended their lead atop the Interior Conference standings on Saturday, cruising to a 6-2 victory over the Penticton Vees at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Nathan Free scored a hat trick and Parker Lalonde buried his league-leading 13th marker of the season to lift Brooks (14-1-0-0) past Penticton (11-4-0-0).
Max Heise and Eli McKamey scored for the Vees, who have lost twice to the Bandits this season and sit six points out of first place in the Interior Conference, as of Nov. 3.
Saturday's showdown at the SOEC marked the second of six meetings between the two storied Junior 'A' franchises in 2024-2025. The clubs will next meet on Jan. 24, at the Centennial Regional Arena in Alberta.
Lalonde and Ethan Beyer scored for Brooks in the first period to give the Alberta-based squad a 2-0 lead heading into the middle frame.
The Bandits extended their lead to 4-0 in the second period, as Nick Peluso scored shorthanded and Free net his first of three markers on the night.
After Heise scored for Penticton to make it 4-1, Free replied less than 45 seconds later to make it 5-1.
The teams exchanged goals in the third period, as the Bandits skated to a 6-2 victory on the road.
Vees goaltender Will Ingemann suffered the loss after surrendering six goals on 25 shots. His counterpart, Bandits netminder Johnny Hicks made 22 saves.
Brooks on Saturday handed Penticton its first loss of the season on home ice.
Fred Harbinson's squad knocked off the Blackfalds Bulldogs one night earlier to record their fifth win at the SOEC.
The Vees return to the ice on Tuesday, Nov. 5, for a showdown a road showdown with the West Kelowna Warriors (4-8-2-1).
