Written by: Scott Savard
Headline photo: Scott Savard
Okotoks, AB (February 22, 2026) – The Okotoks Oilers came up short against the Saints in Spruce Grove last night as they fell 3-2 after a third-period comeback by the most northern BCHL Interior East Divisional team.
Patrik Kilment (Banska Bystrica, Slovakia) was a standout as he helped keep the Oilers in the game with his 31 saves on the night, coming away with a 9.12 save percentage in his third straight star for the Green and Gold. Jordan Murray added his 10th point (2G, 8A) in as many games and his second goal in back-to-back games as he continues to play a big role with the squad each time his skates hit the ice.
Ben Deacon (St. Albert, AB) hit a milestone in the game, scoring his first-ever BCHL goal. Jeff Niehaus (Calgary, AB) would help by putting pressure on the Saints’ defenceman behind their netminder, Ryan De Kok, which would force the play on the other side of the boards. Deacon would continue the forecheck while gaining possession of the puck, then cut in front of De Kok and let go of a nice wrist shot from the slot for a pretty first goal.
Holden Pajor (Eden Prairie, MN) would also collect a point on the night for his ninth (2G, 7A) in the last 10 games.
The first frame would favour the Green and Gold as they came away with a 1-0 lead and led 14-11 in shots while on the road. Murray scored early, with his marker coming two minutes and six seconds into the game. Pajor would collect the primary assist, with assistant captain Jamie Hikida collecting the secondary assist.
The score would stay the same until Deacon added the 2-0 marker with three seconds until the halfway mark of the game, and the second period. Deacon’s goal would go unassisted, but was helped by Niehaus’ forechecking. The Saints would comeback marching as Josh Polak cut the Oilers’ lead in half before the end of the second.
Kliment would do his best at keeping the Oilers lead intact as they were outshot 13-6 in the final frame, but Chris Battaini and Junior Podein both added goals to take it 3-2 in regulation.
The Oilers will face another Interior East Division rival on Tuesday morning, as the Minds Matter game, which will host over 1,000 students, will be played at Viking Rentals Centre at 11:30 a.m. against the Blackfalds Bulldogs.
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.
