Written by: Scott Savard
Headline photo: Chad Goddard
Okotoks, AB (November 14, 2025) – The Okotoks Oilers are traveling north to Blackfalds and Spruce Grove for two divisional road games this weekend.
Tonight, the Oilers will face the Blackfalds Bulldogs for their fourth meeting this season. The Green and Gold have yet to solve the Bulldogs this season, but will have assistant captain Ryder de Nys (Cochrane, AB) in the lineup for the first time against Blackfalds this season.
de Nys, who returned from injury last weekend, is excited to lead his group against their Interior East Division rivals.
“Yeah, it felt great. Obviously, watching your team from the stands has got to be one of the worst things. It was awesome to be back and help contribute, and help us get back in the win column there on Friday night,” de Nys said about returning to the lineup.
“I think the biggest thing that I noticed from the stands is that we need to play to our identity. That’s just playing fast, playing together, just smart hockey. Managing our pucks and making sure that we do everything to play in their end more. That’s the biggest thing I noticed, and I thought we did a pretty good job on that Friday night.”
The Oilers have found success on the road earlier in the season when they strung three road wins in a row. de Nys feels that to get back to that, preparation is key.
“Yeah, I think it starts with our preparation. We can practice to prepare for those games, and bring that compete at practice every single day. Then, on game days, coming prepared, knowing that every game matters, and being ready to buy into our identity each and every night,” he added.
The group will be sticking together throughout the weekend, as it’s a full road trip and won’t be heading back to Okotoks until the weekend road trip up north comes to a close. Road trips like these can help a team bond and continue to build chemistry among the team.
“Yeah, I think it’s huge. Obviously, a new team. We’ve had a little bit of time together on the road, but not too much. Anytime you get to spend a little bit of extra time together as an entire team on the road, it’s a good thing. I also think it will help with recovery, not getting back as late to town, and then not having a long bus ride again on Saturday, so I think both those things help,” de Nys said about not having to return after the game tonight and head back out to Spruce Grove tomorrow night.
Another big thing de Nys pointed out is how important these divisional games are, as they are more like four-point games in how they affect the standings, and preached the importance of getting these wins early in the season to help them down the stretch when teams are clawing at a playoff spot. While every game is important during the 2025-2026 BCHL regular season, if the Oilers can take two wins against their divisional opponents this weekend, it will surely help them in the standings, as they also have a game in hand over everyone in their division and four games in hand over the Bulldogs.
“I’m excited for the ability to beat a couple of teams we haven’t beaten this year. I think we owe them a couple of big games and we can show them what we’re all about,” de Nys said.
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.
