OKOTOKS, AB (March 4, 2025) – The Green and Gold’s 2006-born forward Coy Pighin started his hockey journey 51 km south of Okotoks in Nanton, Alberta.
Pighin is no stranger to playing hockey outside of his hometown as he played for the Edmonton Ice Bantam Prep, the Red Deer Rebels U15 AAA, Yale Hockey Academy in Abbotsford, B.C., and the Drumheller Dragons before making his way onto the Oilers.
“I grew up in Nanton up until Bantam first year. I know lots of people around here, so it’s nice to kind of be back in the area, and everybody can come watch me play,” Pighin said about playing close to his hometown. “My grandpa comes all the time because he’s down here, so it’s pretty nice.”
Pighin added that his family now lives in Cranbrook, but having his grandpa and his close family friends from the area has been a treat.
“We were kind of east of Stavely until I was nine or 10 probably, then we moved kind of east of Nanton until I was 13-14 maybe and then we moved up to Red Deer for dad’s work,” he explained.
With the Red Deer U15 AAA team, Pighin got the opportunity to play in the John Reid Tournament in St. Albert, which led to scouts bringing him over to Abbotsford to play for Yale Hockey Academy for the 2020-2021 and the 2021-2022 season. Pighin joked that moving hasn’t been an issue and that he is used to it.
“It was definitely a learning curve because Covid kind of happened when I was out there. So, getting home was sometimes a problem, but other than that, I enjoyed it. I had a good group of buddies that were from Red Deer that came out with me and we all went together. We had a good time out there for sure,” Pighin said about Abbotsford.
It’s been a while since Pighin has lived in his hometown of Nanton but makes sure to visit the area frequently.
“We go down there quite a bit. We do a little bit of hunting down there,” he added. He would also mention that the Nanton Candy Store is a must-visit and that he hopes the grain elevators stay in the town as he still has memories of visiting the elevators at Halloween time when he was younger because they would turn them into a haunted house.
“I kind of always been around hockey my whole life. It’s probably the friendships you make and the people you get to meet,” Pighin said about what he loves about the game played on ice. He continued by adding that he still talks to his billets from Abbotsford nearly daily.
The billets that Pighin now lives with while playing with the Oilers are old family friends who his family met through the rodeo.
“I team rope, yeah. I rodeoed when I was younger, but then hockey took over,” Pighin mentioned about taking part in rodeos. He joked that maybe he will do some team roping with teammates Cyle Clayton (Strathmore, AB) and Spencer Rheaume (Beaverlodge, AB) who also take part in the sport.
Pighin isn’t a stranger to the Oilers as he played on the opposite side of the ice for two seasons with the Drumheller Dragons before Okotoks moved over to the BCHL. This season he joined the Green and Gold with three Dragons in Jamie Hikida (Richmond, BC), Jacob Goudreau (St. Albert, AB) and Clayton.
“Yeah for sure, it definitely did, because I played with them my whole junior hockey career. So, it’s pretty nice to keep some familiar faces around,” he responded when asked if having Hikida, Goudreau and Clayton join the Oilers at the same time helped with the transition to Okotoks.
Another familiar face for Pighin was Oilers alternate captain Brett Wilson (Calgary, AB) who he played spring hockey for about five years when they were both younger. Wilson and Pighin had stayed friends throughout the years as they kept in touch along with running into each other in Calgary.
“It’s definitely interesting to see, I understand why they were so fast all the time now because we run a lot of speed drills. It’s pretty cool to be on the other side of it,” Pighin explained what it’s like being on the Oilers instead of playing against them.
Since moving to the BCHL, Pighin said he has found the league to be fast-paced and that all four lines on each team can produce on any given night.
(Photo by Chad Goddard)
One thing that has been a constant is his relationship with his older sister Chezney who is a fine line tattoo artist. Pighin shared a tattoo that Chezney made for him celebrating their family with some playing cards and a deer head.
“She’s three years older than me, but we have been close our whole life and it’s pretty nice having an older sibling that is supportive and is someone you can talk to when you need to,” he said about his sister. He added that she was never big into playing hockey and stuck with taking part in the rodeo instead.
While Pighin did take part in the rodeo, hockey was the path he wanted to pursue and mentioned that his dad helped with the decision. Pighin said his dad picked the rodeo over hockey and mentioned that he regretted it a little bit. Pighin’s decision was also easier to make as he felt he was better at hockey compared to the rodeo.
“Dad, he was a bareback rider and he ripped his ribs off of his sternum which kind of ended everything for him. But, he was in the Stampede, CFR (Canadian Finals Rodeo) and stuff,” Pighin explained.
“They have been very supportive the whole way obviously. With me moving away so young, it’s definitely hard on them but, you definitely learned that family is very important when you are that far away,” he said about his mom Laci and dad Marty.
After his junior career comes to a close, Pighin will be joining Colorado College of the NCAA as he has committed to the school to play post-secondary hockey.
“It’s pretty cool, I got to do two fly-downs. I went to Penn State and Colorado, kind of polar opposites but, it was cool, cool to experience it when I went down there,” Pighin added. “I have always wanted to go the college route personally. But yeah, that’s probably my main reason, I just always wanted to go the college route way and take my time to develop.”
When it comes to the Green Army, Pighin said “It’s awesome” when asked about the energy they bring to each home game.
“I like the fans, it adds to the game. When you go somewhere and there is not many fans it kind of slows it down a bit, but when it’s loud and there is fans, it’s good for the players. The support is awesome, I appreciate it and so does everyone else,” he said.
10 questions with Coy Pighin
What is the most embarrassing song on your current playlist?
“That’s a tough one. Probably 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton.”
What is your go-to cheat meal?
“Probably the honey BBQ chicken fingers and onion rings from Dairy Queen I would say.”
If you could meet anyone in the world, alive or dead, who would it be?
“My grandma. She died when Dad was young, so. I never got to meet her. Probably just talk and experience her.”
Favourite player and team growing up?
“I have kind of always been an Oilers fan. But, my favourite player was probably Jonathan Toews.”
Favourite movie and TV show?
“It’s kind of like a movie series but, Lonesome Dove probably. It’s an old Western series. TV show, I’ll probably go Mountain Men, I watch that quite a bit.”
Would you rather visit the past or the future?
“Definitely the future. Probably just to know what’s coming.”
What song gets you pumped up?
“Lots of Nickelback, I would say. AC/DC. I don’t have any specifics, but those guys for sure.”
Best chirp you have ever heard or said?
“I don’t really chirp very much, or listen to them. So, I don’t know if I have an answer for that one.”
Where in the world would you go if I could snap my fingers and bring you there?
“I would probably say the Yukon for some hunting.”
Who on the Okotoks Oilers would you have for an emergency contact?
“I would probably go with Cyle Clayton. I live with him and he’s an old soul.”
Bonus
Favourite sport other than hockey?
“Probably rodeo.”
If you could relive one day that you have lived, what day would you choose?
“The first day I went hunting.”
Best advice your parents have given you?
“Work hard at something you love so you don’t have to work hard at something you hate.”
Written by: 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.
