Oilers comeback falls short on their annual Christmas Jersey Night

Written by: Scott Savard

Headline photos: Scott Savard

Okotoks, AB (December 14, 2025) – The Okotoks Oilers’ comeback was stifled by the Vernon Vipers on their annual Christmas Jersey Night, as the team from BC took the game 6-4 at Viking Rentals Centre last night.

While the Oilers came up empty-handed, their hot hands continued with captain Brett Wilson (Calgary, AB), Michael Kowalski (Chicago, IL), Joey Meredith (Toledo, OH), Brady Engelkes (Middleton, WI), and Michael Mikan (Edina, MN) all continuing their point streaks as they added to their totals last night. Jordan Murray (Decker, MB) would also get on the scoresheet as he stays hot on Viking Rentals Centre ice with his 11th point in nine games in Okotoks.

The Green and Gold’s assistant captain, Hunter Sawka, made his return to the lineup last night against the Vipers as he made his first appearance since recovering from an injury he sustained back on the first of November.

The Oilers’ special teams were clicking as they were able to pot two power-play goals on four attempts, while giving up one goal on three penalty kills.

Eric Young (Mill Bay, BC) made the start in net after taking the night off against the Sherwood Park Crusaders on Friday, making 27 saves during the contest. Colton Jugnauth was on the opposite side of the ice as he tended the goal for the Vipers.

The Vipers would open the scoring 6:29 into the first period, where Young had to be on his toes as the Oilers were outshot 13-5. Wilson responded by leading his troops with the tying power play goal just over four minutes later for his ninth of the season, extending his point streak to three games and producing 16 points in the last 12 games. Kowalski, who had the hot hands this weekend, picked up his fourth point in two games with the primary assist, and Meredith extended his point streak to three games with the secondary assist.

The Oilers would find themselves down by a goal again under a minute later as Toms Trockis answered back for the Vipers. Kowalski, who had been a bit snake bitten in terms of potting goals as he had two empty net goals on the season entering the weekend, scored his third goal of the weekend after receiving a nice pass from Ethan Anderson (Stratford, PEI), getting all he could on the shot, and beating the Vipers’ netminder shortside for a pretty goal. Assistant captain Jamie Hikida (Richmond, BC) added the secondary assist for his first point of the night.

By the 9:08 mark of the second period, the Vipers would find themselves with a two-goal lead as Dallas Stars prospect Sebastian Bradshaw found the back of the net, followed by Evan Sundar, who gave the Vipers a 4-2 lead. Meredith cut the Vipers’ lead to one after finding the back of the net on the power play for his eighth point in the past five games. Murray would grab the primary assist with Mikan extending his point streak to three games.

Engelkes would tie things back up with his seventh goal during the 2025-2026 BCHL season, just over two minutes left in the second frame, to extend his point streak to four games which he potted three goals in that span. Hikida added his second point on the night with the primary assist, while Kowlaski picked up his third point of the night, and his sixth point during the weekend games with the secondary assist.

The Oilers would outshot the Vipers 13-11, but weren’t rewarded for their efforts as they fell 6-4 after the final buzzer with Davids Livsics getting the game winner and Trockis adding his second of the night with the insurance marker.

At the end of the night, every player on the Oilers would see their Christmas jersey sold during the auction after the game, with Mikan’s topping the charts at $600.00.

The Green and Gold will hit the road next weekend before closing shop for the holidays, playing their final games of December in Cranbrook and Trail.