OKOTOKS, AB (March 21, 2025) – The Okotoks Oilers grabbed a pair of goals in the first period against West Kelowna, but it was the Warriors coming away with a 5-2 win at Viking Rentals Centre Friday night (March 21).
With the loss on home ice, the Oilers fell four points behind the Warriors in the BCHL Interior Conference and were beaten 3-1 in the season series against the team from West Kelowna. Okotoks took the first meeting back on November 9th with an overtime winner coming from Spencer Rheaume (Beaverlodge, AB), followed by three straight losses to the Warriors.
Ben Vatis (Phoenix, AZ) made his second straight start for the Oilers, making 22 saves in the contest. Vatis didn’t allow a goal in the third period, making 10 saves in the frame to help keep the Oilers alive.
Brock Souch (Edmonton, AB) opened the scoring early in the game with a goal coming just 1:35 into the first period. Brennen Hocher (Calgary, AB) set up the play with a pass to Oilers captain Jackson Rowland (Calgary, AB). Rowland would collide with a Warriors player but get a piece of the puck in West Kelowna’s zone to avoid an icing, the puck would then take a funny bounce off the side of the net and land on Souch’s stick who buried the puck in the back of the net.
The Warriors responded less than four minutes later with a power play goal coming from Tyler Grahme. Then, they took the lead under two minutes later, with Warriors captain Simon Houge grabbing his first of the game and fifth in the season.
Kade Duell (Taber, AB), who has been finding the back of the net consistently, added his 10th goal in as many games to tie things up 2-2 in the first period. Duell would find open space with no one covering him, Ryan Boyce (Calgary, AB) would get the puck over to Duell, who rifled it past the West Kelowna netminder, Édouard Gauthier. Duell’s marker would come on the power play.
The Warriors wouldn’t let the period end in a tie, as they got the eventual game-winning goal 17:10 into the first frame thanks to Kelsen Podworny.
Houge followed up the goal with his second on the night near the end of the second period while the Warriors were on the power play. West Kelowna would then seal the game in the third period with an empty net goal from Jackson Kyrkostas.
Saturday night will see a potential first-round matchup teaser for the 2024-2025 BCHL playoffs as the Penticton Vees head to Viking Rentals Centre for the first time in franchise history. Saturday will also mark the first time former Okotoks Oiler Conyr Hellyer has played his former team in Okotoks.
Tickets for Saturday’s game at 7:05 p.m. MDT are still available at tickets.okotoksoilers.com.
Recap: 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.
