Extending the Pipeline: Brady Engelkes

Written by: Scott Savard Headline photo: Scott Savard Okotoks, AB (November 11, 2025) – Middleton, Wisconsin, also known as “The Good Neighbor City,” is home to 21,827, according to the 2020 census, including Okotoks Oilers forward Brady Engelkes. Middleton is a skip and a hop from the capital city of Wisconsin, Madison, as it’s around a 16-minute drive. […]

Extending the Pipeline: Gabe Simpson

Written by: Scott Savard Okotoks, AB (November 3, 2025) – Okotoks Oilers rookie defenceman, Gabe Simpson, has grown as a player across the USA before making his way north of the border for the first time in his life this season as he joined the Green and Gold. Simpson was born in Lafayette, Colorado, and grew up […]

Extending the Pipeline: Markus Jakobsen

Written by: Scott Savard Okotoks, AB (October 27, 2025) – Odense, Denmark, located 7,154 km from Okotoks, Alberta, is the distance Oilers defenceman Markus Jakbosen made to join the Green and Gold for his first season in the BCHL. Jakobsen’s hometown is the third-largest city in the “Land of the Danes” with a population of 185,480 […]

Extending the Pipeline: Michael Mikan

Okotoks, AB (October 16, 2025) – Edina, Minnesota, the home of America’s oldest mall, former President of the Calgary Flames Brian Burke, captain of the New York Islanders Anders Lee, and the Okotoks Oilers’ own Michael Mikan. The 2007-born forward from the North Star State has already made an instant impact as he is tied for […]

Extending the Pipeline: Aiden Bruce

OKOTOKS, AB (April 9, 2025) – Kelowna BC’s own Aiden Bruce has travelled a fair bit this season as he has played hockey in four separate provinces across two different leagues. Bruce who started the season in the SJHL played hockey in both Saskatchewan as well as Manitoba, then played in Alberta and BC after joining […]

Extending the Pipeline: Teo Pisani

OKOTOKS, AB (April 5, 2025) – St. Albert’s own, Teo Pisani is playing his first season with the Okotoks Oilers after being acquired from the Spruce Grove Saints on January 5, 2025. The move to Okotoks marked the first time Pisani’s home ice has been outside the Edmonton area, as he played for teams based in […]

Extending the Pipeline: Ben Vatis

OKOTOKS, AB (April 4, 2025) – Phoenix Arizona, aka “The Valley of the Sun” produced two-time middleweight boxing champion David Benavidez, the late Chester Bennington who was the lead singer for the iconic rock band Linkin Park, two-time Grammy winner Stevie Nicks, as well as Okotoks Oilers netminder Ben Vatis. Vatis, who joined the team later […]

Extending the Pipeline: Logan Broten

OKOTOKS, AB (March 28, 2025) – 18-year-old American-born and raised defenceman Logan Broten is in his first season with the Okotoks Oilers. Broten, who grew up in both the state of South Dakota and Minnesota, took his talents to Okotoks for the opportunity to play in the BCHL for the 2024-2025 season. Minnesota, also known […]

Extending the Pipeline: Luke Calabria

OKOTOKS, AB (March 25, 2025) – Huntington, New York, the hometown of six-time Grammy winner Mariah Carey, former NHL centreman Brandon Sutter (son of Brent Sutter) as well as Okotoks Oilers defenceman Luke Calabria. The 2005-born rookie defenceman for the Oilers has earned the coaching staff’s trust. He has played 51 games so far during the […]

Extending the Pipeline: Michael Kowalski

OKOTOKS, AB (March 20, 2025) – Chicago, Illinois, also known as the Windy City, the Second City, and Chi-Town, is home to the Blackhawks, deep-dish pizza, the Bean (Cloud Gate), and Okotoks Oilers forward Michael Kowalski who is playing his first season in the BCHL. When it comes to Chicago-style hot dogs, most Chicagoans have a […]