OKOTOKS, AB (March 8, 2025) – The Okotoks Oilers came away with two points over the Spruce Grove Saints as they took Friday’s (March 7) game 3-1.
With the final meeting between the two teams, Okotoks finished strong against the Saints as they came away with a 5-1 season series win over their Alberta rivals. Spruce Grove took the first game against the Oilers back on December 6, and since then, the Green and Gold strung five wins in a row against the Saints to convincingly prove they are the better team during the 2024-2025 BCHL season.
Olivier Ciarlo (Laval, QB) made the start in goal for his 37th appearance for the Oilers this season. Ciarlo made 25 saves on 26 shots for his 19th win with the Green and Gold and made 13 stops in just the first period to help lift the Oilers to victory.
Hunter Sawka (Cochrane, AB) opened the scoring in the second period for the Oilers as he collected his sixth goal of the season after burying the puck on a nice passing play made by Ryder de Nys (Canmore, AB) and Oilers captain Jackson Rowland (Calgary, AB). de Nys would get the secondary assist to keep his point streak alive at five games. In that span, he has accumulated six assists.
Just like the previous meeting between the Oilers and Saints, Jacob Goudreau (St. Albert, AB) would get the eventual game-winner. Goudreau would make it 2-0 just three and a half minutes after Sawka’s marker at 17:39 in the second period. Jamie Hikida (Richmond, BC) and Spencer Rheaume (Beaverlodge, AB) would both collect their 11th assists of the 2024-2025 BCHL season on Goudreau’s game-winner.
Kade Duell (Taber, AB) would continue his streak as he found the back of the net late in the third period for his fifth consecutive game in finding twine. In the last five games, Duell has scored a total of eight times and leads the team in goals this season with 19. Duell’s marker would go unassisted.
Josh Polak for the Saints broke Ciarlo’s shutout with 36 seconds left in the game, but it wasn’t enough as the Oilers would hold on to win 3-1.
The Green and Gold are back on the ice tonight to settle a score with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. The Silverbacks lead the season series 2-1, as the home team has won each game in the series. Okotoks has a chance to improve their 14-7-1 home record tonight and tie the season series with Salmon Arm tonight (March 8) at 7:05 p.m. MST at Viking Rentals Centre.
Tickets for tonight’s game are still available at tickets.okotoksoilers.com.
Recap: Scott Savard
Photos: Chad Goddard
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.
