OKOTOKS, AB (December 2, 2024) — The Okotoks Oilers remain just three games under .500 on the year after splitting their weekend set of games against the Blackfalds Bulldogs and the Surrey Eagles at Viking Rentals Centre.
The Oilers kicked off the weekend in style, scoring seven goals on 38 shots against the last-place Bulldogs on Friday. Olivier Ciarlo (Laval, QC) stopped 25 of the 27 shots he faced while seven different Oilers players scored in the victory.
Kade Duell (Taber, AB) was named the first star of Friday’s game after scoring the winning goal and an assist. Duell, Coy Pighin (Alix, AB), Michael Kowalski (Chicago, IL), and Jamie Hikida (Richmond, BC) all scored in a frenzied first period to give the Oilers a 4-0 lead over Blackfalds, and despite the Bulldogs briefly attempting a comeback in the second, the Oilers put them away in the third with goals by Brett Wilson (Calgary, AB), Brayden Duy (St. Louis, MO), and Spencer Rheaume (Beaverlodge, AB).
The Oilers still have five more games to play against the Bulldogs (2-19-0) this season, including the make-up game for their postponed contest in Blackfalds that was originally scheduled for November 23. A crowd of 931 fans took in the lopsided victory at Viking Rentals Centre on Friday night.
Saturday’s game against Surrey, the reigning BCHL champions, was close until it wasn’t. The Eagles led the Oilers by a 2-1 score after 40 minutes, with the shots in their favour by a 21-17 margin; in the third period, Surrey outshot the hosts 15-9 and scored three more times to make it a 5-1 game at the final buzzer.
One of the few bright spots of Saturday’s loss was the play of rookie forward Rylan Oster (Carver, MN), who recorded his first BCHL goal and later dropped the gloves for his first time in Oilers colours. Oster was named the game’s third star in recognition of his strong performance. Oilers goaltender Simon Westling (Harnosand, SWE) did all he could, making numerous highlight-reel saves in the first two periods.
The Oilers currently occupy 10th place in the BCHL’s Interior East Division but are just two points back of the Vernon Vipers, who have played in three more games. They’ll return to action this coming weekend for a two-game set against the Spruce Grove Saints and the Trail Smoke Eaters, with the latter game taking place at Viking Rentals Centre on December 7.
Photo: Chad Goddard
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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.
