Hockey Operations
Tyler Deis
Head Coach and General Manager
The longest-serving head coach in franchise history, Tyler Deis enters his 10th season as Head Coach and General Manager of the Okotoks Oilers in 2025-26, and his 13th overall with the organization.
A two-time AJHL Coach of the Year (2018, 2020) and CJHL Coach of the year in 2018, Deis has overseen the growth of the Oilers into a perennial top-tier contender in Alberta, as well as one of its best producers of NCAA Division I talent.
During Deis’ tenure, the team finished first overall for the first time in franchise history in 2017-18, winning a South Division championship, and finished first in its division in 2019-20.
He began with the team in the 2013-14 season as an assistant coach before being named its fourth head coach on June 6th, 2016.
He crossed the 200-win mark in the 2021-22 campaign, and has now recorded a 243-102-21 (.693) regular season record with the team, with a playoff record of 40-24 (.625). 27 players have committed to NCAA Division I schools while playing in-season with the team during his tenure, which has also included six alumni being drafted into the NHL, two of which were first round selections.
Prior to his team with Okotoks, Deis was instrumental in building the hockey programs at the Edge School, while also serving as its midget team’s head coach until 2013. As a player, he played three years in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League with Melfort and Yorkton before a four-year tenure with NCAA Divison I Minnesota State University Mankato. Subsequently he played a five year ECHL pro career before moving into coaching and teaching.
In August of 2022, the Oilers announced that Deis had signed a long-term contract extension with the team, securing his services potentially to the end of the 2029-30 season.
Derek Purfield
Assistant / Goaltending Coach
Derek Purfield enters his 13th season with the Okotoks Oilers in 2025-26.
Purfield spent six seasons with the Calgary Buffaloes organization before joining the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League for five seasons. Simultaneously to the latter assignment, he served on the coaching staff of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns.
Purfield also consults for Hockey Alberta with their regional goaltending development and Under-16 programs. He won a silver medal at the 2017 WHL Cup as goaltending coach of Team Alberta, and served on the coaching staff of Team Alberta at the 2019 and 2023 Canada Winter Games.
His tenure with the Oilers has included a win by Riley Morris as AJHL Top Goaltender in 2017-18, as well as top goalie nominations for Morris in 2016-17, Brady Parker in 2018-19 and 2019-20, and Jack McNaughton in 2021-22.
Corban Knight
Assistant Coach/ Dir. of Player Development
Knight is entering is first season with the Oilers and is a former Oiler, playing for the team during the 2008-2009 season while accumulating 72 points (34G, 38A) in 61 games. 
Knight playing four seasons with the University of North Dakota from 2009 to 2013. He would collect 146 points (52G, 94A) in 161 NCAA games. Knight earned the honour of wearing the “A” as the assistant captain with the University of North Dakota in his final two seasons. Knight would go on to play in the NHL and AHL after completing University, suiting up for 70 games with the Abbotsford Heat (Calgary Flames affiliate, AHL) while posting 45 points (18G, 27A) during the 2013-2014 season. He would also join the Flames for seven games during that campaign, adding his first-ever NHL goal in the process.
Knight played in the 2022 Olympic Games for Canada, three seasons in Russia with Avangard Omsk in the KHL and finished his career in Switzerland with SC Bern in the NL.
Reid Hnatowich
Assistant Coach
Reid Hnatowich enters his eigth season with the Okotoks Oilers in 2025-26.
Hnatowich has worked with players at nearly all levels, from professionals in the NHL, AHL, and ECHL to high-end performers in the NCAA, WHL, and CJHL, to the earliest ages of hockey development. Certified HP1 by Hockey Canada, he serves as both an on-ice instructor with Tanbridge Academy and owner of Push It Hockey Ltd, which operates development camps throughout the year in Southern Alberta as well as partnering with both the Calgary Northstars and Calgary Buffaloes.
His other bench roles have included assistant and head coaching roles with the Bantam AAA Airdrie Xtreme (2014-19), winning the AMBHL championship in 2017-18, assistant and skills coaching for the Midget AAA Strathmore Bisons (2016-17), and Coach Mentor/Association Skill Development Coach with the Okotoks Oilers Athletic Association (2019-20).
Morgan Hides
Certified Athletic Therapist
Morgan is in his second year with the Okotoks Oilers. Hides comes into the team with a plethora of experience, working with teams like, Ambrose University with men’s and women’s volleyball programs, Calgary Colts Football Team, and the North West Calgary Athletic Association (NWCAA). Hides has education in first degree Kinesiology and his second degree in Athletic Therapy. He studied at Camosun College in Victoria, University of Calgary and Mount Royal University.
His passion for the human anatomy and sport medicine has helped perform at a high standard in helping players get the best out of them. He understands the needs of players not inly due to his training and studies but also played both high level football with Westshore Rebels. Hides is passionate not only in helping the Oilers progress at a physical level, but also takes his time in meeting and understanding the players needs on a personal level.
Keegan Kanzig
Strength and Conditioning Coach
Keegan Kanzig, owner and head trainer, brings six years of experience as a professional hockey player along with five years in major junior hockey. Throughout his athletic career, Keegan prioritized strength and conditioning. Leveraging this background, he is dedicated to helping clients achieve their fitness and performance goals. He is a certified Specialist in Strength and Conditioning, as well as a certified Strength Training Specialist.
Brody Hailwood – Skills Coach
Eric Rosier – Video Coach
Business Staff
Brady Pupp
Business Manager
Brady Pupp enters his third season with the Okotoks Oilers in 2025-26 and his second as Business Manager after serving as Business Operations Lead during the 2023-24 season.
An AJHL alumnus with the Calgary Mustangs and Bonnyville Pontiacs, Pupp joined the Oilers in 2023 after four years at Marian University in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, where he earned a degree in Sport and Recreation Management and Marketing, while tallying 20 points in 69 games for the school’s NCAA Division III hockey team. Prior to his college hockey career, he played 156 games at the Junior A level in both the AJHL and Manitoba Junior Hockey League after being recruited out of the Calgary Buffaloes.
Ryan Kanten
Business Operations Lead
Ryan Kanten enters his second season with the Okotoks Oilers in 2025-26 as Business Operations Lead, working under the guidance of the Business Manager.
Ryan grew up playing hockey locally in Okotoks for both OMHA and OOAA, continuing his career in Junior hockey with the Okotoks Bisons and High River Flyers of the Heritage Junior Hockey League, as well as the Kelowna Chiefs in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. He attended the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus for two years before transferring to Mount Royal University, where he earned a degree in Sports and Recreation Management with a minor in Finance.
Support Staff
Kiana Briscoe
Social Media Manager
Scott Savard
Journalist
Gino De Paoli & Simon Szyszkowski
Broadcasters
Zach Plamondon
Video Board Manager
Rob Leatherdale
Volunteer Coordinator
Sheena Denscombe
Billet Coordinator Volunteer
Jack Knight
Team Chaplain
Scouting Staff
Head scout: Brad Cobb
Alberta scouts: Jason Abramoff, Jason Reinhart, Nick Symon
Arizona scout: Gord Jones
Minnesota scout: Jessie Willis
