Latest news with #BrooksBandits
CTV News
a day ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Bandits searching for new head coach as longtime bench boss Ryan Papaioannou joins Penguins' organization
The host Brooks Bandits won the National Junior A Championship, using a three-goal first period to down the Prince George Spruce Kings in a thrilling final. The Brooks Bandits are searching for a new head coach after Ryan Papaioannou resigned to join the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. Papaioannou will become the head coach of the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers. Papaioannou spent 16 seasons in the Bandits organization, coaching 1,172 games and compiling a 907-217-48 record. Over that span, Papaioannou coached the club to nine league championships and four national championships, building the Bandits into a junior hockey dynasty. 'First, on behalf of the Brooks Bandits I must congratulate Ryan on his professional hockey appointment, a substantial achievement that adds further kudos to our organization,' said Bandits president Paul Seaton. 'This day was always going to come. Fortuitously it is considerably later than most of us expected. At the junior level he has become the most successful and highly regarded coach in North America, probably even well beyond,' Seaton added. 'As a community we can take great pride in his advancement during his 16 years in Brooks. He leaves us at the very top, a position we intend to maintain.' On their Instagram page, the Nailers welcomed the new coach. 'Papaioannou joins the Wheeling Nailers as the 21st head coach in team history, and comes from a culture of winning with the @brooks_bandits.' Papaioannou said thanks to everyone in the Bandits organization. 'The opportunity to move on to a new challenge in pro hockey is something exciting for me, that said I have spent more than a third of my life building this program in Brooks and it's truly a sad day to leave the office,' said Papaioannou. Ryan Papaioannou has been named the head coach of the @WheelingNailers. Papaioannou will be the 21st head coach in Nailers history, joining the Penguins' ECHL affiliate from the Brooks Bandits, where he has spent the last 17 seasons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) August 14, 2025 'There are countless people to thank that all played a vital role in the success we've enjoyed. Our board of directors for continuously giving me the opportunity to lead the team, the billet families for allowing our players a home away from home and our passionate fans for always believing in the direction we take. 'It goes without saying the players and staff over the years are the people who are at the forefront of what we do and without them we don't have the special program we possess. I must especially thank my wife, Jordana and my boys, Ambrose and Calix, for allowing me the time to dedicate to the Bandits.' The Bandits said they will announce a new head coach soon as they prepare to open training camp Aug. 30 for the 2025-26 season.
CTV News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Bandits one win away from BCHL title after 4-2 win over Chilliwack
The Brooks Bandits in Game 5 action against the Chilliwack Chiefs, who they defeated 4-2. (Photo:
CTV News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Bandits batten down the hatches, defeating Chilliwack to tie up BCHL Final
The Brooks Bandits in action Wendesday night against Chilliwack in the BCHL finals. (Photo: X@BrooksBandits)
CTV News
10-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Vees force Game 6 with 3-2 win over Bandits
The Vees forced a Game 6 in the BCHL Interior Conference Final Friday, defeating the Brooks Bandits 3-2 (Photo:
CTV News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Bandits one win away from advancing to finals after 6-3 victory over Penticton
The Brooks Bandits are one win away from advancing to the BCHL finals after a 6-3 win over the Penticton Vees Tuesday night in Brooks. Nick Peluso scored twice and added a pair of assists to lead the Bandits in a one-goal game that wasn't decided until Brooks scored twice in to an empty net. Zach Zahara stopped 25 shots for Brooks to earn the win. Luke Bibby and Cooper Pierson scored in the first period to propel the Bandits into the lead, and Parker Lalonde added his 11th of the post-season to push the margin to 3-0. Halfway through the second, Peluso scored his seventh of the postseason to make the lead 4-0 Bandits before the Vees cut it to 4-1 on a late second period goal by Oscar Pantzare. Luke Posthumus scored three minutes into the third to cut the lead to 4-2, and halfway through, Louie Wehmann scored to make it a one-goal game. Peluso and Lalonde scored empty-net goals to make it 6-3. Game 5 goes Friday night in Penticton. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. MT. The winner of the Calgary series meets the winner of the Victoria-Chilliwack series. Chilliwack leads 2-1.
