By Thomas Miller

The Lloydminster Bandits took 10 penalties against the Killam Wheat Kings in a 4-3 loss on Saturday night at the Centennial Civic Centre.
The Bandits took a 3-1 lead early in the second period when Nathan Newman scored his 14th of the season, but the Wheat Kings came back with three unanswered goals, taking the lead on a five-on-three power play just as the first Bandit stepped out of the box.
“It’s something we’ve got to definitely scrutinize a little more,” said head coach Jason Newman about the penalty situation. “We’ve got to focus a little more on staying out of the box because it did kill us there at the end of the second, took away the momentum we built and obviously gave them an opportunity to get the winning goal.”
The loss came on the heels of an overwhelming 12-2 win over Thorhild on Friday night, in which the Bandits also managed to take 10 penalties.
Just one point ahead of Killam for third place in the NEAJBHL standings, the Bandits could have gotten some separation with a win.
“It was a tough loss for the boys and we’ve just got to learn from it, we need to play a full 60 minutes, not a 50-minute game and keep our composure when we had some penalties there,” added Newman. “Just come back on Tuesday, work hard and get ready for Wednesday against Vermilion.”
Kodi Sawka scored the Bandits opening goal of the game, a rifle into the top corner from the point on the power play, but they rattled a number of posts and missed a few chances that proved costly.
“It seemed like they were getting every bounce, (off the) pads to right on their tape and wide open net,” said Sawka after the game. “I think we hit six cross-bars, just couldn’t buy one. Second period we kind of had a melt down with the ref and everything like that. We shouldn’t let that happen, but at the same time it would be nice to see it both ways for a change. Being a Bandit is kind of, you’re the ugly duckling in the crowd.”
Sawka said he’s already got Jan. 27 marked on his calendar, when his team travels to Killam.
“We needed this one,” he said, frustrated.
“It was pretty much a four-point game to pull us away from Killam and it didn’t happen. We can’t get ourselves down, I know we play (Killam) one more time back there and we’ll keep it inside and hopefully tear it up out there.”
The Bandits face Vermilion on Wednesday and Vegreville on Friday, both away from the Civic Centre.
“We played 50 out of 60 minutes, I figure, today (Saturday),” said Sawka of the loss to Killam.
“When we go out against Vermilion on Wednesday we’ve got to finish off our 60 and make sure we stay disciplined. Reffing, we can’t let it get to us, anything like that. Stay positive, play our systems and hopefully bounces start coming our way.”