OKOTOKS, AB (April 3, 2025) – The Okotoks Oilers and the Penticton Vees opened up the 2025 Rogers BCHL Playoffs Thursday night (April 3) with the Vees taking game one of the best-of-seven series 4-0 in Penticton.
The last time the two teams met, the Oilers suffered a similar fate, as they were unable to overcome the Vees and their netminder, Will Ingemann, in a 4-0 loss at Viking Rental Centre on March 22.
Olivier Ciarlo (Laval, QB), gave the Oilers a chance to steal game one on the road with his 34 saves on 38 shots. Ciarlo who made his first postseason start for the Green and Gold made 20 saves in the first two periods alone, which was more than the Oilers could get on net all game with their 19 shots on goal.
Put that in the highlight reel 🎬 pic.twitter.com/XlkMeIiEJh
— Okotoks Oilers (@OkotoksOilers) April 4, 2025
The Oilers and Vees would head to the box four times each, with the Vees picking up the lone power play marker with 47 seconds left in the first period to open up the scoring. Ryden Evers who led the Vees in points during the 2024-2025 BCHL season picked up the opening goal of the 2025 Rogers BCHL Playoffs after batting home a rebound from Nolan Stevenson at the point.
Ben Merrill extended the Vees lead to 2-0 in the second frame after driving to the net and burying a feed from Matt Cataldo who was skating with the puck along the boards.
While Okotoks held former Oiler Conyr Hellyer off the board, Max Heise who played five games for the Green and Gold during the 2022-2023 season picked up his first-ever BCHL postseason goal of his career to go up 3-0 on the Oilers 3:45 into the third period.
Simon Meier, who has a twin brother and both played for Team Switzerland in the 2025 World Junior Championships in Ottawa picked up the final goal of the evening just over four minutes after Heise’s marker for the 4-0 final.
The Oilers and Vees will have two days off and then head to the South Okanagan Events Centre for game two. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. MDT.
For those who haven’t yet purchased their Oilers playoff package, make sure you don’t miss any of the action by visiting https://tickets.okotoksoilers.com/events/35044-2025-playoff-package
Single-game playoff tickets for games three and four at Viking Rental Centre can also be purchased at https://tickets.okotoksoilers.com/
In addition, the Oilers 50/50 has gone live with tickets available at https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/okotoksoilers
Oilers and Vees 2025 Rogers BCHL first-round playoff schedule:
Vees lead the series 1-0
Game 1 – April 3 in Penticton at South Okanagan Events Centre: 4-0 Loss
Game 2 – April 6 in Penticton at South Okanagan Events Centre, 4:00 p.m. PDT
Game 3 – April 8 in Okotoks at Viking Rentals Centre, 7:00 p.m. MDT
Game 4 – April 9 in Okotoks at Viking Rentals Centre, 7:00 p.m. MDT
Game 5 – April 12 in Penticton at South Okanagan Events Centre, 7:00 p.m. PDT *If necessary
Game 6 – April 13 in Okotoks at Viking Rentals Centre, 7:00 p.m. MDT *If necessary
Game 7 – April 15 in Penticton at South Okanagan Events Centre, 7:00 p.m. PDT *If necessary
Preview: Scott Savard
Photos: Chad Goddard
Graphics: Geyan Predas
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.
