Written by: Scott Savard
Headline photo: Chad Goddard
Okotoks, AB (November 15, 2025) – The Okotoks Oilers marched into Spruce Grove tonight and took home a 3-0 shutout win over the Saints in an important divisional game.
With the win, the Oilers have come away with three of a possible four points against their Interior East Division rivals, the Spruce Grove Saints. Okotoks would also improve to a 4-4-0-0 record on the road in the early parts of the 2025-2026 BCHL season.
The Oilers would control the game in the shot department as they outshot the Saints 31-18, and hold on to a 1-0 lead for the majority of the game.
Eric Young (Mill Bay, BC) backstopped the Oilers to the win, stopping all 18 shots he faced, including eight in the first period for his first shutout of the 2025-2026 BCHL season and second of his BCHL career. Joseph Quintillio made the start for the Saints on the opposite side of the ice.
“It was a lot of fun. The guys made it easy on me in the second and third. Everyone bought into the program, and we played our game. Couldn’t have done it without them for sure,” Young said about getting the shutout tonight in Spruce Grove.
Grady Gustafson (Williams Lake, BC) would also hit a milestone tonight as he picked up his first-ever BCHL goal, which would end up being the eventual game-winner. Gustafson, who made his Oilers debut back against the Penticton Vees in the first round of the BCHL playoffs last season, earned his first goal by banging in his own rebound.
“Obviously feels great to get that first one out of the way. Marko (Lisica) and Jeff (Niehaus) made a great play out front, and I was in the right spot to put it in,” Gustafson said about his first BCHL goal.
The Oilers were able to show that they have a short memory after coming up short against Blackfalds last night, and come out tonight with a solid performance in a crucial game against a divisional rival.
“It was a great bounce back, and we were a whole new team tonight. The guys showed a lot of resilience and character to close out the weekend, and I know we’re just going to keep the ball rolling,” Young said about the win.
“It was a great team win, with a lot of big efforts from the boys. Younger helped us out in net with a big shutout,” Gustafson added.
Another first was Michael Kowalski (Chicago, IL) picking up his first of the season, as he’s been due for a goal. Kowalski finished with two points as he added his seventh assist of the season in the late parts of the third period. Jeff Niehaus (Calgary, AB) also collected his first BCHL point with an assist on Gustafson’s game-winner.
Gustafson opened the scoring early in the first period after Marko Lisica (Plainview, NY) chased Quintillio, who tried to play the puck behind the net, getting poke checked by Lisica, who got the puck to Niehaus. Niehaus then found Gustafson, who was in the slot, and Gustafson would bury it after picking up his own rebound.
The second period would go scoreless as both goalies stood tall. Young made five saves in the period, including a penalty shot against Tre Peck to keep the Oilers in front by one.
The third period would be more of the same until Jamie Hikida (Richmond, BC) popped the puck into the empty net with less than a minute and a half left in the game. Kowalski picked up the lone assist. Under a minute later, Oilers captain Brett WIlson (Calgary, AB) would find Kowalski for the Green and Golds’ second empty net goal of the night and Kowalski’s first goal of the season.
The Oilers will be back on the road next weekend with a trip to B.C. when they visit the Cranbrook Bucks and the Trail Smoke Eaters in a weekend rematch from two weekends ago.
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.
