Okotoks, AB (September 12, 2025) – The Okotoks Oilers weren’t able to get past the Brooks Bandits tonight, falling 7-3 on the road.
Ben Vatis (Vancouver, BC) made the start in net for the Green and Gold, with Zach Zahara in at the other end for the Bandits. Vatis was peppered throughout the game as he faced 44 shots.
Okotoks would get all their goal scoring in the first period as both teams combined for seven goals in the first period. Assistant captain Hunter Sawka (Cochrane, AB) picked up his first goal of the preseason on an unassisted shorthanded marker just over four minutes into the game. Dante Sicilliano, Kamyl Chemrouk, and Dmitrijs Dilevka all answered for Brooks to give them a 3-1 lead in the first.
The Oilers responded in the first period with back-to-back goals to tie things up at 3-3. Holden Pajor (Eden Prairie, MN) grabbed his first goal of the preseason, with assistant captain Ryder de Nys (Canmore, AB) grabbing the assist on the Oilers’ second goal of the game. Assistant captain Jacob Goudreau got the game-tying goal with help from Teo Pisani (St. Albert, AB) and Logan Broten (Chaska, MN). Jeremiah Mundy would grab the Bandits’ lead back before the end of the first frame.
Brooks would add two more goals in the second and the final goal in the third, with Chemrouk grabbing his second of the night, Jack Rosensteel picking up his first, and Jack Good potting the last goal for the Bandits.
Okotoks will close out the preseason tomorrow at home with their third game in a row against Brooks. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. MST at Viking Rentals Centre.
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.
