Written by: Scott Savard
Headline photo: Chad Goddard
Okotoks, AB (March 28, 2026) – The Okotoks Oilers finish the 2025-2026 BCHL season on a high note with Holden Pajor (Eden Prairie, MN) calling the game with an overtime winner in back-to-back nights at Viking Rentals Centre.
The Green and Gold took down the number one-ranked BCHL team, the West Kelowna Warriors, with a 5-4 win in extra time thanks to Pajor, who not only collected the game-winner but completed his first BCHL hat trick after being named the Oilers’ “Rookie of the Year” honours.
Before the game got underway, the Oilers Head Coach and GM, Tyler Deis, would make his way onto the ice to hand out awards to the players and present each of the five graduating players with an Oilers jersey.
The award winners were:
Holden Pajor – Rookie of the Year
Jamie Hikida (Richmond, BC) – Hardest Working Oiler
Hunter Sawka (Cochrane, AB) – Top Forward
Luke Calabria (Huntington, NY) – MVP and Top Defenceman
Grady Gustafson (Williams Lake, BC) – Greg Wedderburn Award (For exemplifying what it means to be an Oiler)
As for the graduating players, Ryder de Nys (Canmore, AB), Joey Meredith (Toledo, OH), Michael Kowalski (Chicago, IL), Calabria, and Sawka were each given the jersey they wore this season as a thank you for their many hours of hard work, dedication, and leadership throughout their time in Okotoks.
Patrik Kliment (Banska Bystrica, Slovakia) would earn his second win in as many games as he made 31 saves in the Oilers final game of the season. Bor Glavič made the start for the Warriors on the opposing side of the ice, as he got the call in Okotoks for the second time this season, falling in the extra frame in both contests as Calabria played hero during the October 4, 2025, meeting at Viking Rentals Centre.
Oilers assistant captain, Kowalski, who was coming off a hot night last night, as he collected a “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” with a goal, an assist, and a fight, continued where he left off as he potted the game’s first goal just nine seconds into the first period with an unassisted marker. Pajor would extend the Oilers’ lead with his first of three goals on the night, just over 12 minutes later, with Joey Gugino (Buffalo, NY) and Matthew Hikida (Richmond, BC) collecting the helpers.
Ruslan Jamaldinov stopped the Warriors’ bleeding for a moment as he cut the Oilers’ lead in half two minutes after Pajor’s first goal of the game. Pajor, however, would give the Oilers their two-goal lead back 26 seconds later to close out the first frame with a 3-1 Oilers lead. Matthew Hikida picked up his second point on the night with the primary assist, with his cousin and Oilers assistant captain Jamie Hikida earning the secondary helper.
The Green and Gold would go on the power play near the mid mark of the second period, during which Kowalski would pick up his second goal of the game and third of the weekend, with Nate Porter (Hingham, MA) and Jordan Murray (Decker, MB) each picking up a point with the assists.
West Kelowna would storm back with three goals in the second frame to send the game tied 4-4 into the final frame. Jamaldinov collected his second goal of the tilt with the game-tying goal, along with Dylan Krayer and Kelsen Podworny adding markers of their own.
The third period would go scoreless, with Kliment making 10 saves to help send the game into the extra frame.
Both teams would see chances in the overtime period as Kliment made five saves, but it was Pajor who banged home a one-timer after receiving a nice feed from Meredith, who Gugino set up for the Oilers final moments of the 2025-2026 BCHL season.
While the Green and Gold won’t be competing in the playoffs this season, the group will hold their heads high with back-to-back overtime wins against top competition in the BCHL to close out the campaign.
For those who can’t wait until the 2026-2027 BCHL to start, make sure to get ahead of the game and secure your season tickets for next season at https://tickets.okotoksoilers.com/events/40207-2026-27-early-bird-season-tickets
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.
