Written by: Scott Savard
Headline photo: Chad Goddard
Okotoks, AB (November 28, 2025) – The Okotoks Oilers are set to host the Coquitlam Express at Viking Rentals Centre tonight for the first time in franchise history.
While it marks the first time the Express have visited Okotoks, the two teams met once last season, with the Oilers taking the win on the road by a 6-2 final score. Otto Hanson ended up with the game-winner in the tilt and finished with three points on the night. Jamie Hikida (Richmond, BC), Brett Wilson (Calgary, AB), Michael Kowalski (Chicago, IL), Ryder de Nys (Canmore, AB), and Joey Meredith were all current Oilers who picked up at least a point in the previous meeting.
Tonight will also mark the first time the Green Army will get to watch the newly acquired defenseman, Kash Crawford (Atlanta, GA), on home ice, as he joined the team when they first started their four-game road trip.
The firsts don’t stop there as the game against the Express will also mark the first time Oilers netminder Eric Young (Mill Bay, BC) will face his former team.
“Yeah, it’s obviously exciting. Still a lot of familiar faces on that team. It’ll be fun,” Young said about the opportunity to face his former team. “Coquitlam plays a very solid defensive game. They’re obviously off to a hot start here, so we’ve got to bring our A game against a good team like them.”
Young said if he gets the call tonight against Coquitlam, he will treat it as any other game, as he will go out there while focusing on giving the Oilers a chance to come away with the win in Okotoks. He added that he has never had to face a former team of his before, but it more than ready for the opportunity.
“We’re going in the right direction here with consistency. We have been practicing really hard this week, so I think that’ll pay off, and obviously, being at home with the fans’ support will help us get four points this weekend,” he added about the direction the team has been on. “It’s always exciting playing in front of bigger crowds. It’s cool to see 1,000 people. Hopefully, it gets to 1,100 this weekend.”
Young also mentioned that the four-game road trip was nice, as it helped bring the team even closer.
“Yeah, long bus rides and close quarters in hotel rooms, right? Some ups and downs help bring a team together,” Young said.
He will be donning some green in his equipment as he gave his pads, blocker, and glove a little makeover this past week. He said that he’s been saying all week, “Look good, feel good, play good.”
Young added that the Oilers and he are ready to leave it all out on the ice during this last push until Christmas break.
Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. MST at Viking Rentals Centre.
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.
