OKOTOKS, AB (March 25, 2025) – The Okotoks Oilers announced Tuesday (March 25) that goaltender Olivier Ciarlo (Laval, QB) has committed to post-secondary hockey with the University of Guelph in USports.
Ciarlo’s decision comes after conversations with multiple schools. He felt the coaching staff and the school in Guelph were a great fit.
“It’s great; I was very excited when I made my decision and when they were ready to go through the commitment. I was just ecstatic and just wanted my family to know,” Ciarlo said.
He added that he wished his family were in town when he got the news but mentioned that Guelph is only a six-hour drive from his hometown and that he’s excited for his family to be able to come to more games next season.
Ciarlo, in his first year with the Oilers after playing in the QMJHL for the previous four seasons, has posted a 19-18-1 record during the 2024-2025 BCHL with a 3.45 goals against average and a 0.895 save percentage. In 40 games played this season, he has made 1,097 saves while standing between the pipes for a total of 2,243 minutes.
“This year was a tough year, I think, for a lot of reasons. But we stayed as a group, and we wanted to achieve things. I think I had a different role than what I’m used to; I was a leader this year. So, I try to bring this leadership to my everyday life and try to be more mature with everything. So, I think this is going to help me, going into university where I can be a little more mature with the studying, the school and the having to put them together. I think this year helped a lot,” he said about how the Oilers helped lead him to a commitment.
🚨 New Recruit!
The Gryphons are excited to announce the commitment of Olivier Ciarlo! The Laval, Quebec native brings experience from 127 QMJHL games with Baie-Comeau Drakkar and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.🔥 pic.twitter.com/Z6eln9VUlE
— Guelph Gryphons Men’s Hockey (@gryphonsmhky) March 25, 2025
Both Simon Westling (Härnösand, Sweden) and Ben Vatis (Phoenix, AZ) have commented on how Ciarlo has been a helping hand in their goalie development since being on the Oilers this season.
Ciarlo said that the schedule with USports is a bit different in terms of games played compared to the BCHL, but he is looking forward to the opportunity and said that he wants to help Guelph as much as possible. He’s looking forward to the future with Guelph but is still focused on this season with the Green and Gold.
“The year is not over; we expect some playoffs. We just want to do as best as we can to give them a little bit more hockey,” Ciarlo said about the Green Army.
Written by: Scott Savard
Photos: Chad Goddard
Graphic: Geyan Predas
About the Okotoks Oilers
The Okotoks Oilers are a not-for-profit, community-run junior hockey franchise competing in the BCHL and operating out of Viking Rentals Centre. The Oilers are currently in their 20th year of play and their first full season since officially joining the BCHL in January 2024. For more information, visit okotoksoilers.com or follow the Oilers on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
