Written by: Scott Savard
Okotoks, AB (November 1, 2025) – The Okotoks Oilers were dealt a tough card with luck tonight as they fell 6-2 to the Blackfalds Bulldogs at Viking Rentals Centre.
From bad bounces to a string of injuries that kept the Oilers’ bench short, the hockey gods were not in favour of Okotoks. Even referee Eric Ruschin wasn’t safe as he took a puck near his eye late in the third period, leaving the on-ice officials short-handed as well.
Ben Vatis (Vancouver, BC) made the start between the pipes, making 26 saves in the tilt against Blackfalds. Carson Mertz tended the goal for the Bulldogs.
The first period would see the Oilers and Bulldogs each take a lead but ultimately end the frame with a 2-2 tie. Nicholas DiPaolo opened the scoring with a short-handed goal 4:22 into the game. Nate Porter (Hingham, MA) picked up his first BCHL goal under a minute and a half later to bring the game back to even. Luke Calabria (Huntington, NY) added the assist for his 10th point (3G, 7A) of the season.
Oilers assistant captain Jacob Goudreau (St. Albert, AB) gave the Oilers their first and only lead of the game with his second goal of the 2025-2026 BCHL season. Joey Meredith (Toledo, OH) got the assist after making a beautiful backhand pass from behind the goal line near the left corner, setting up Goudreau for the tap-in goal. Grady Gustafson (Williams Lake, BC) would get credit with the secondary assist for his first BCHL point. The Bulldogs made it 2-2 before the period came to a close, with Jared Langdon getting on the scoreboard.
The Bulldogs would add another four unanswered goals, two in the second period and two in the third period, to close out the game. Rohan Guevarra, Luke Dahlen, Langdon, and Magnuss Avotins were the final goal scorers for Blackfalds.
The Oilers will host two home games this weekend, taking on the Trail Smoke Eaters on Friday and the Cranbrook Bucks on Saturday.
Tickets are available at: https://tickets.okotoksoilers.com/
The Okotoks Oilers are a not-for-profit, community-run junior hockey franchise competing in the BCHL and operating out of Viking Rentals Centre. For more information, visit okotoksoilers.com or follow the Oilers on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
