Okotoks, AB (October 18, 2025) – The Okotoks Oilers held the lead over the Bulldogs twice tonight, but couldn’t hold on and were handed a 4-2 loss in Blackfalds.
With the loss, Blackfalds takes the top spot in the Interior East Division and holds a 2-0 season series lead over the Oilers. Both teams will continue their rivalry for another five games during the 2025-2026 BCHL, with the next meeting coming on November 1 in Okotoks.
Eric Young (Mill Bay, BC) got the start between the pipes for the sixth time this season and held a 4-1-0 record coming into the game tonight. Young, who played last night, made 25 stops in his second straight start in back-to-back games against the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs would switch netminders from last night and had Olivér Király tending the net tonight.
The Oilers would take their first lead of the hockey game just under five minutes into the first period. Michael Kowalski (Chicago, IL) would win the draw against the Bulldogs, getting the puck back to Joey Gugino (Buffalo, NY), who ripped a shot and beat Király clean from the point. Gugino’s goal would mark his first of the season and make him the 14th Oiler to score their first goal of the season in the first eight games of the season.
The Bulldogs would respond early in the second period, with Nicholas DiPaolo finding the back of the net 2:04 into the frame. Oilers assistant captain, Hunter Sawka (Cochrane, AB), gave Okotoks their lead back just over five minutes later with his team leading ninth point of the season with a power play goal. Markus Jakobsen (Odense, Denmark) picked up the primary assist with Michael Mikan (Edina, MN) grabbing the secondary helper.
Blackfalds responded with three unanswered goals to close the period, with Nikita Ivashchenko and Jared Langdon getting the puck across the goal line, along with DiPaolo picking up his second of the night.
Both goalies stood tall in the final frame as neither would get beaten. Young would make 10 saves in the final period to give the Oilers a chance in the final 20 minutes of the game.
The Oilers will be back at Viking Rentals Centre this weekend for two games. Friday, the Oilers will host the Vernon Vipers, then on Saturday, the Spruce Grove Saints will visit Okotoks for the first time this season. For tickets, visit: https://tickets.okotoksoilers.com/
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.
