Bandits win Game 1 of South Division finals

The St. Louis Bandits defeated the Topeka RoadRunners, 2-1, in Game 1 of their best-of-five South Division finals series of the North American Hockey League’s (NAHL) Robertson Cup Playoffs on Thursday.

Forwards Ryan Belonger and Brooks Bertsch (game-winner) scored the Bandits goals, and goaltender Tyler Bruggeman made 24 saves.

View the box score here.

Game 2 of the series is set for Friday, April 24 in Topeka (7:05 p.m. local time).

"Tonight's win was a team effort," said Bandits assistant coach Rocky Russo. "We know Topeka will be ready to play tomorrow, so we need to be prepared."

The winners of the Central, North and South Division playoff finals, along with the West Division’s Wenatchee Wild and Fairbanks Ice Dogs, will advance to the Robertson Cup Championship Tournament, which will be held from May 4-9 at the Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee, Wash.

View the Robertson Cup Playoffs bracket here.