Written by: Scott Savard
Headline photo: Scott Savard
Okotoks, AB (December 20, 2025) – The Okotoks Oilers finished off their final weekend of hockey for the year of 2025 with a split as they beat the Bucks last night in Cranbrook but fell 5-1 tonight against the Smoke Eaters in Trail.
With the loss, the Smoke Eaters now lead the season series 2-1, with the home teams taking each game during the 2025-2026 BCHL season.
Ben Vatis (Vancouver, BC) made his second start in as many weekends, with his last appearance coming against the Sherwood Park Crusaders last Friday. Vatis made 24 saves in the contest. Chayse Johnson started in net for the Smoke Eaters on the other side of the ice and was awarded the game’s second star after stopping 22 of 23 shots he faced.
The Oilers would find themselves down 3-0 by the end of the second period. Trail would score the opening goal with Erik Pastro getting the puck across the goal line just over five minutes left in the first period. Matthew Keller added the 2-0 goal with one second left in the opening frame. Former Okotoks Oiler, Otto Hanson, would pick up his third point in as many games against the Green and Gold this season with the assist on Brayden Sinclair’s 3-0 goal in the second period.
Joey Gugino (Buffalo, NY) would stop the bleeding halfway into the third frame for his second goal of the 2025-2026 BCHL season. The rookie defenceman would get help from his Long Island Gulls teammate and current roommate, Marko Lisica (Plainsview, NY), as he picked up the assist on Gugino’s answering goal.
Around two and a half minutes later, the Smoke Eaters would go on the power play and make the Oilers pay as Colton Whitfield added to Trail’s lead. Ryan Oothoudt capped things off with the empty net goal to cement the game at 5-1.
The Oilers will now have next weekend off, as the BCHL holiday break begins. The Green and Gold will face the Vipers in Vernon for their first game of 2026 on January 3, as they aim to hand the Vipers a receipt from their last meeting in Okotoks.
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. For more information, visit okotoksoilers.com or follow the Oilers on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
