Written by: Scott Savard
Headline photo: Chad Goddard
Okotoks, AB (January 10, 2025) – The Okotoks Oilers suffered their first regulation loss against the Saints tonight in Spruce Grove as the season series is now tied at 2-2 after the Green and Gold fell 6-3.
In the three previous meetings, the Oilers had come away with at least a point, as the only loss to the Saints during the 2025-2026 BCHL season came in a shootout at Viking Rentals Centre back on October 25, 2025.
Brady Engelkes (Middleton, WI) would pot his second goal in as many games, with Jeff Niehaus (Calgary, AB) adding his second career BCHL goal, and 2007-born rookie defenseman, Gabe Simpson (Lafayette, CO), collecting his third career BCHL marker.
The Green and Gold would lead in the shot department heavily with a 37-25 margin, but weren’t rewarded for their efforts as they were handed their first loss of 2026.
Eric Young (Mill Bay, BC) made the start in net for the Oilers in his second straight start in 2026. Long-time rival of the Oilers, Ryan De Kok, was between the pipes for the Saints tonight and kept his team in it with 34 saves on the night.
The Saints took an early 1-0 lead in under seven minutes into the first period with Max Holland finding the back of the net in Spruce Grove. By the seven and a half minute mark into the second period, the Saints would hold a 3-0 lead over the Oilers as Brady Witkin and recently announced BCHL All-Star Bradon Funk would get on the scoresheet.
Niehaus would answer for the Green and Gold just over a minute after Funk made it a 3-0 game. Marko Lisica (Plainsview, NY) picked up his fourth helper of the season with the primary assist, and assistant captain Jamie Hikida (Richmond, BC) collected the secondary assist. The Saints answered back to reclaim their three-goal lead just over five minutes later, with Blair Erickson adding the tally.
Simpson opened the third period scoring at 4:52 into the frame to cut the Saints’ lead back to two goals. Captain Brett Wilson (Calgary, AB), on his birthday, added the primary assist for his third point in the last two games. Wilson’s linemate, Michael Mikan (Edina, MN), picked up the secondary assist to bring his point streak to six games. Declan Waddock would respond, along with Brett Barnes, who grabbed the empty net goal while being down a man as Felix Haibock was in the box serving a penalty for too many men.
Engelkes picked up his goal 40 seconds later with Joey Gugino (Buffalo, NY) and Josh Wiebe (Calgary, AB) adding the helpers, but it wasn’t enough to come back against the Saints.
The Oilers will stay on the road tomorrow as they conclude their three-game road trip to start 2026 with their final stop in Sherwood Park against the Crusaders.
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.
