OKOTOKS, AB (May 3, 2025) – The Okotoks Oilers have announced that team captain Jackson Rowland (Calgary, AB) has committed to playing with the Western University Mustangs of U SPORTS for the 2025-2026 season.
Rowland, also known as “Row” to his teammates, put on a Green and Gold jersey for the first time during the 2021-2022 season when he dressed for two games to start his journey as an Oiler. Rowland would also put in time with the Calgary Northstars U18 AAA team in the AEHL, posting 37 points in 36 games.
The Calgary product would play his first full season with the Oilers during the 2022-2023 season, appearing in 48 games. Rowland’s first full season was extra special as he got to share the ice with his older brother, Ethan, who suited up for 22 games. Rowland accumulated 19 points, eight coming from goals, in his rookie season with the Oilers and finished strong with five points in 10 games during the postseason.
The Oilers’ coaching staff not only rewarded Rowland with the “C” this season but also acknowledged his importance to the team with their year-end awards. He took home the Rookie of the Year award during the 2022-2023 season, followed by the Hardest Working Oiler award after the 2023-2024 season and then finished off with another Hardest Working Oiler award this past season with the Oilers’ Top Forward award. Rowland was also selected to play in the 2024-2025 BCHL All-Star game, making him the first player to represent the Okotoks Oilers in a BCHL All-Star weekend.
Rowland would play his whole junior career in Okotoks with the Oilers, appearing in 153 regular-season games while producing 51 goals for 112 points, along with 15 points in 24 playoff games.
While it will be a new experience for Rowland to play post-secondary hockey and live in London, Ontario, as he attends Western University, he will join a familiar face in former Oiler and teammate Owen MacNeil (Calgary, AB). MacNeil spent the past season with the Mustangs after battling with the Oilers during the 2023-2024 season.
“We are super excited for Jackson and his family on this opportunity to go to the next level. He’s an extremely hard worker and is someone who brought that hard work every single day to the rink for practice and games. Jackson always showed up ready to work and was a valuable member of the Oilers Organization,” said Oilers GM and head coach Tyler Deis.
The Okotoks Oilers Organization expresses their appreciation for Rowland’s time as an Oilers, dedication, hard work, competitiveness, as well as his never-give-up attitude, while exemplifying what it means to be a member of the Green and Gold. The Oilers wish Rowland the best, along with success as his junior career has come to a close and his post-secondary journey has begun with the Western Mustangs.
Written by: Scott Savard
Photos: Chad Goddard
Graphic: 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.
