The excitement is back. Yep, playoff hockey is back at the Okotoks Centennial Arena Sunday night and while our guys go down to defeat 5 to 4 to the Canmore Eagles, this series is a long way from over.

 A big hit along the boards by Oiler Brandon Hoogenboom early in the first period sets the tone for the physical stuff for the rest of the game. Back to back powerplays for Okotoks early on fails to produce a goal, but gets the guys into the game after being off for the past 2 weeks. The Oilers score the first goal in the series, and only goal of the period at 17:23 when Brandon Hoogenboom sends a high wrister past Eagles goaltender Sam Brittain for a 1 to 0 Oiler lead. The fast paced, hard hitting period has Okotoks outshooting Canmore 9 to 6.

 The Eagles tie the game up at on the powerplay at 1:34 of the second period on a goal by Evan Renwick from a slapshot at the top of the circle. Eagle Kory Roy then scores his first of three on the night at 6:37 but that is followed at 7:29 by a goal from Oiler Derek Rodwell to put the game at 2 a piece going into second period intermission. The Oilers outshoot Canmore 11 to 9.

 The Oilers give up a goal at 8:19 to Kory Roy, his second of the night on a 2 on 1 that leaves only Quinn Sproule back and Canmore jumps out into the lead.  They pad that lead at 14:48 when Cody Cartier scores on a second odd man rush of the period when he plays give and go with teammate Bryden McGhee and scores on the pretty play for a 4 to 2 Canmore lead. The Oilers score at 16:58 when Chris Korpach hits the net on the powerplay and scores from the point. Kory Roy completes his hat trick at 18:11 and puts the Eagles up 5 to 3. A  late powerplay goal by Oiler Jeff Barrett  at 19:54 rounds out the scoring and makes the final Canmore 5, Okotoks 4. Oilers outshoot Canmore once again 17 to 6 in the period.

 Game notes: Oiler scratches were James Bannister, Justin Cochrane and Rhett Holland. The Oiler gamestar was Brandon Hoogenboom. The Oilers outshoot Canmore 37 to 21 in the game. Canmore scores 1 goal on the powerplay in 4 chances and Okotoks score 2 on 6 chances. This was the first game of the series that the 2 referee system was used. Look for it every game from here on in.

 Next game: Same 2 teams go back at it on Monday night at the Okotoks Centennail Arena. 7 pm game time. Games 3 and 4 of the 7 game series then switches to Canmore.