OKOTOKS, AB (February 16, 2025) — The fourth meeting of the 2024-2025 BCHL season between the Okotoks Oilers and the Brooks Bandits wasn’t for the faint of heart, with the Oilers coming up just short in a 3-2 overtime loss.
Saturday night’s tilt saw the Oilers and Bandits face off for the first time since November 8 and marked the first time the two played at Viking Rentals Centre since September 20 to start the 2024-25 season.
Olivier Ciarlo (Laval, QC), the first star of the game, made 36 saves in a valiant effort in net. Ciarlo would also grab his second assist of the season on the game-tying goal in the third period.
The Bandits opened the scoring just 59 seconds into the game with a goal from Luke Bibby and then added a second from Nathan Free to go up 2-0 just over five-and-a-half minutes into the first period.
Okotoks answered back late in the frame off a nice passing play that started with Kade Duell (Taber, AB) finding Joey Meredith (Toledo, OH) entering the Bandits zone on the right side. Meredith got the puck across to Oilers alternate captain Brett Wilson (Calgary, AB) who went forehand to backhand at the top of the crease and put it past Bandits netminder Chris Quizi for his 14th goal of the season.
The second period saw a big push from the Oilers as they outshot Brooks 15-5 but weren’t rewarded for their efforts. Then, in the third, Oilers 2008-born forward Ryan Boyce (Langley, BC) made it a brand-new hockey game as he tied things up at 2-2 with 13:45 left in regulation. Ciarlo, who picked up an assist on Boyce’s marker, made 13 saves in the period to help force overtime.
Okotoks controlled a lot of the play in the extra frame, outshooting the Bandits 8-3, but it was Davide Patella who ended the game for Brooks with the game-winner coming with just 24.9 seconds left in overtime. It was the first time the Bandits had beaten Ciarlo in a 64:05 span.
The Green and Gold will be back at Viking Rentals Centre on Family Day (February 17) as the Sherwood Park Crusaders will visit for the second time this season and the first time since November 2. Puck drop is set for 4:20 p.m. MT and tickets are still available at tickets.okotoksoilers.com.
Recap: Scott Savard
