OKOTOKS, AB (November 2, 2024) — Fueled by two-goal efforts from Jackson Rowland (Calgary, AB) and Kade Duell (Taber, AB), the Okotoks Oilers rallied to defeat the Sherwood Park Crusaders by a 5-4 final score at Viking Rentals Centre on Saturday night.
Jamie Hikida (Richmond, BC) notched the game-winning goal off a fortuitous bounce in front of the Sherwood Park net with 7:37 to play in regulation, while Oilers goaltender Olivier Ciarlo (Laval, QC) stopped 27 of the 31 shots he faced to improve to 6-5-0 on the season.
Saturday’s game marked the Oilers debut of 2006-born forward Brock Souch (Edmonton, AB), who arrived in Okotoks via a trade with the Brooks Bandits on Friday. Wearing No. 9, Souch skated alongside Rowland and Hunter Sawka (Cochrane, AB) for the majority of the night, although he went without a point in his first game.
The Oilers and Crusaders traded goals in the first period, with the hosts overcoming 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to enter the intermission with a 3-2 lead. Rowland and Hikida connected for the most memorable goal of the night during that stretch after finding themselves on an improbable 2-on-0 break while shorthanded.
Despite continuing to outplay Sherwood Park deep into the second period, the Oilers squandered their momentum with a string of minor penalties, finally conceding the game-tying goal to Matthew Frost just as their fifth consecutive infraction expired. Malachi MacKinnon added a goal of his own less than 90 seconds later to give the Crusaders a 4-3 lead through two periods of play.
Although Sherwood Park outshot the Oilers 12-7 in the third period, it was the hosts who found a way to break through at the most opportune of times. The Oilers drew back-to-back penalties as the midway mark of the final frame neared, and with his club on a 5-on-3 advantage, Rowland struck from close range to make it 4-4 — and then, just under four minutes later, Hikida broke the deadlock once again with the eventual winner.
With the victory, the Oilers improved to 6-8-0 on the season and 4-1-0 in their last five games. They’ll look to keep the good times rolling next weekend when they take on the Brooks Bandits on the road and the West Kelowna Warriors at home.
Recap: Mike Gould
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 entering 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.
