Written by: Scott Savard
Headline photo: Chad Goddard
Okotoks, AB (December 6, 2025) – The Okotoks Oilers’ four-game homestand over the past two weekends was a success as they claim six of a possible eight points after Holden Pajor’s (Eden Prairie, MN) last game heroics lifted the Green and Gold past the Spruce Grove Saints, 4-3 tonight at Viking Rentals Centre.
The two points against their Interior East Division rivals were huge, as Okotoks is now tied with the Saints in the standings, but holds the tiebreaker as they have more wins over the Saints, holding a 2-0-0-1 season series lead.
Pajor, who was awarded the first star honours after collecting the opening goal and game-winning goal, bumps himself up with a tie for second place with Josh Wiebe (Calgary, AB) for most goals on the Oilers so far this season, with eight.
“Yeah, obviously it feels good. Getting on the scoresheet early and then helping the team win at the end, it was nice,” Pajor said about picking up two goals tonight.
The Oilers, whose power play was shut down last game, got back on the board as Pajor’s game-winner came with the extra man.
“Yeah, our power play, we were in their zone for 50 seconds, and I had a couple of chances before. On that last (opportunity), just going for it and seeing it,” he said about the game-winner.
Pajor would add that the win was huge when you consider the standings and said it was probably the biggest win of the season, so far. He explained that if the team sticks to their structure, he’s confident they will continue to find success against the Saints.
“I think just staying to our structure. Obviously, we know that we can beat them. If we play our game, we should beat them the rest of the year. Just focus on their score and try to win games dirty, we only scored three against them (in the previous meeting) and had four tonight, so try and keep their score low,” Pajor said about how the Oilers can take the season series against the Saints.
“We needed a big couple of weekends here after falling a bit in the standings. So yeah, it’s awesome, no better feeling.”
The Oilers would announce before the game that they had acquired Gabe Smith (Brampton, ON) from the Blackfalds, and the former Bulldog would make his debut tonight wearing the number 18.
“Felt pretty good, had a little nerves coming in the first game, but to get the win was pretty calming and a good feeling,” Smith said about the team picking up the win in his debut. “The team just worked hard, blocked shots. It was a greasy win, and we pulled it out.”
Smith came in tonight with some knowledge of his new team and the Saints, having played two games at Viking Rentals Centre on the opposing side, as well as three games against the Saints this season.
“Yeah, I’d say knowing what I was going into kind of helped a little bit,” he said.
The Green Army, who were in attendance tonight, would have noticed the size Smith brings to the backend as he stands at 6’4.
“I’d say I’m strong defensively, I can make good plays, good breakouts, and jump in when I have to. I have a pretty strong shot and a big frame who can skate well,” Smith explained his game style for those who missed his debut.
As for what Smith learned from his time in Blackfalds, he feels that the Oilers possess some of the same traits that will make his transition easier.
“Just kind of the mindset, playing hard, physical, all that stuff. I mean, this team already kind of does that, they do that well,” he added.
A key factor in tonight’s Oilers win was the outstanding performance from goaltender Eric Young (Mill Bay, BC), who has been a stud in net all season for the Green and Gold, earning his 10th win. Young would make 37 saves to keep the Oilers in the game. He would make his second straight start of the weekend, after making what could be the save of the year in last night’s game against the Langley Rivermen. The 2005-born netminder would produce a .929 save percentage over the two weekend games. Ryan De Kok made the start on the opposing side of the ice for the Saints.
The Oilers and Saints would have a back-and-forth battle in the first frame as they traded goals multiple times. Pajor opened the scoring 6:49 into the first period with Wiebe adding the lone helper. Connor Lee responded by bringing things back to even just over two minutes later. Joey Meredith (Toledo, OH) responded with his seventh of the season, linemates Michael Mikan (Edina, MN) and captain Brett Wilson (Calgary, AB) collected the assists. Once again, the Saints would answer back with just one second left in the period as Max Holland made it a 2-2 hockey game.
The second period would see Young make an impressive 13 saves in the period to keep things tied at two.
The Saints took their first lead of the game in the middle of the third frame, as Brandon Funk got the puck across the goal line. Jordan Murray (Decker, MB) is red hot as he extended his point streak to four games after collecting his fourth goal of the season, with Wiebe picking up his second assist of the night. Murray, who now has 10 points on the season, has thrived at Viking Rentals Centre as all of his points have come on home ice.
Pajor got the game-winner on the power play with just over three minutes remaining in the final frame, and the Oilers were able to hold off the Saints until the final buzzer. Joey Gugino (Buffalo, NY) added the lone assist on Pajor’s marker.
The Oilers will hit the road on Friday for an early 12:00 p.m. MST game in Cranbrook against the Bucks, and then return home for their final home game of the month of December as they host the Vernon Vipers for the second time during the 2025-2026 BCHL season.
Tickets for the Oilers and Vipers game on Saturday are still available at: https://tickets.okotoksoilers.com/events/37872-vernon-vipers-vs-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.
