Written by: Scott Savard
Headline photo: Chad Goddard
Okotoks, AB (March 7, 2026) – The Okotoks Oilers tipped their caps to the billet families who help to make this season possible as they hosted the Blackfalds Bulldogs for Billet Appreciation Night at Viking Rentals Centre yesterday.
The Green and Gold would start the night by introducing each family that has welcomed Oilers players into their households with open arms. As the families were announced, each player would come stand with their billet family and hand them a flower for a nice gesture.
Last night’s tilt would see three firsts, as Joey Meredith (Toledo, OH) played his first game with the “A” on his chest, after displaying two great seasons for the Oilers, Eli Molde (Plymouth, MN) took part in his first ever BCHL game with the Green and Gold while picking up his first assist on Cayden Joramo’s (Highlands Ranch, CO) first ever BCHL goal and point.
The Oilers would come on late in the third period as they outshot the Bulldogs 14-9 in the final frame, but still came up on the short end of a 6-3 final score.
Justin Giguère (Saguenay, QC) would get the nod to make the start in net last night, as he made 25 saves in the contest. Olivér Király would tend the goal on the other side of the ice after shutting the door against the Oilers in the Minds Matter game on February 24.
The Bulldogs opened the game with three goals before the 10-minute mark of the first frame. Magnus Avontis, Thomas Neu, and Duncan Thompson all found the back of the net for the 3-0 Bulldogs lead. Oilers assistant captain Jamie Hikida (Richmond, BC) gave the Oilers life with just over a minute left in the period as he banged home a loose puck in front of the Bulldogs net with Blackfalds players scrambling in the crease. Meredith picked up the lone assist.
Joey Melo gave the Bulldogs their three-goal lead back in the second frame, but the Oilers would get another late-period goal, this time from Joramo, who ripped it home after Molde had made a nice play in the offensive zone to get it to Joramo for his first BCHL goal. Jordan Murray (Decker, MB)would get the secondary assist for his first point on the night.
Once again, the Bulldogs would get the period’s first marker with Danny Hussa picking up Blackfalds fifth goal of the night less than a minute into the third period. The Oilers responded as Jeff Niehaus (Calgary, AB) collected his fourth goal of the campaign, as he buried the puck home as Király was down and out with a wide-open net. Murray added his 25th point of the season with the primary assist, and Sam Esposito (Westfield, NJ) grabbed the secondary helper.
Nicholas DiPaolo cemented the game with just over a minute left as he added the final goal of the evening to finish the game 6-3.
The Oilers will hit the road tonight as they face the Sherwood Park Crusaders at 7:00 p.m. MST.
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.
