Okotoks, AB (September 27, 2025) – The Okotoks Oilers will head home from Prince George happy, as they came away with a 5-2 win over the Spruce Kings tonight.
The win marks the first for the Oilers during the 2025-2026 BCHL season. The Oilers now hold a 2-0-0 franchise record against the Spruce Kings and won’t see them again until next season, unless both teams make the BCHL finals.
Eric Young (Mill Bay, BC) made his first start as an Okotoks Oiler, making 32 saves for the win, including stopping all 14 shots he faced in the second period. Colin Reay was on the opposite side of the ice, starting for the Spruce Kings.
“It felt great, but the guys made it easy in front of me. They put their bodies on the line for the team, especially Hikida, with a huge block at the end. Couldn’t have done it without them. We’ve got a great group of guys and seeing that effort tonight, I’m excited to see the noise we will make this season,” Young said after the game.
Holden Pajor (Eden Prairie, MN) had himself a night as he produced three points tonight, including the game-winning goal in the third period.
“It felt great being able to help the team win tonight. It was a great team effort, and everyone pulled their weight to help us get our first win of the season. It’s a great group and the first win of many,” Pajor said.
The power play continued to play in favour of Okotoks as they went two for seven on the night and now hold the top power play percentage in the BCHL with a 30.8.
The Spruce Kings opened the scoring eight minutes into the first period with Tai Ushio collecting his third goal of the season. The Oilers would answer back as assistant captain Hunter Sawka (Cochrane, AB) found twine for his second goal of the 2025-2026 BCHL season. Luke Calabria (Huntington, NY) picked up the primary assist, and Joey Meredith (Toledo, OH) got the secondary assist on Sawka’s power play marker.
The Oilers would take their first lead of the hockey game after Teo Pisani (St. Albert, AB) used his rocket of a shot to rip one past Reay for the only goal of the second frame and the second power play goal of the game. Pajor grabbed his first point of the night with the primary assist, and Brady Engelkes (Middleton, WI) added the secondary assist.
Matic Perčič brought the game back to even just under five minutes into the third period. The game wouldn’t stay tied for long as Pajor sniped home the unassisted game-winning goal over six minutes later for his second point of the night. Jamie Hikida (Richmond, BC) would extend the lead less than a minute after Pajor’s game-winning tally. Jacob Goudreau (St. Albert, AB) picked up the lone assist on Hikida’s goal.
Pajor would cement the game with an empty-netter with under a minute and a half left in the game. Nate Porter added a point to his stats with an assist on the empty net goal.
The Oilers will be back at Viking Rentals Centre Saturday (Oct. 4) for the lone weekend game when the West Kelowna Warriors visit Okotoks for the first time this season.
