In a game that was much closer than the final score indicates, the Southern Alberta Mustangs fell to the Calgary Bandits 4-0 at Flames Community Center Blue on Tuesday afternoon. Despite the loss, the Mustangs showed a lot of heart and grit, outshooting the Bandits 42-40 in a game that was filled with intense action and physicality.

The Bandits capitalized on their opportunities, converting on one of their nine powerplays, while the Mustangs struggled to find the back of the net, going 0 for 8 on powerplay opportunities. The Mustangs’ goalie, Sawyer Mitchell, put up a valiant effort, making 36 saves on 40 shots. However, the Bandits’ goalie, Drareg Galang, was the difference-maker, stopping all 42 shots he faced.

Nicholas Rollinmud of the Bandits was the standout player of the match, scoring two of the four goals for his team. On the Mustangs’ side, Kane Crowchild led the team in penalty minutes with 16, reflecting the physical and hard-fought nature of the game.

Despite the result, the Mustangs showed that they can compete with the best, matching the Bandits shot for shot. They will be looking to bounce back in their next game, which is an away fixture against Diamond Valley on Monday, March 23 at 7:45pm at the Oilfields Regional Arena. The Mustangs will be hoping to turn their shots into goals and secure a much-needed win.