The Okotoks Bantam AAA Oilers played with an edge to win an intra-provincial tournament over a nearby rival last weekend.
Oilers forward Dylan Prpich finished off the Calgary Edge School AAA team 5-4 in overtime to win the Swift Current Kabos Raiders Bantam tournament in heroic fashion on Sunday.
“It was a great back and forth game and then in overtime and as soon as the goal went in my heart just stopped,” said Oilers’ captain Owen Guenter. “Everyone rushed out off the bench and it was a great feeling.”
The Edge team features several Okotoks area players in Austin LeDuc, Connor Beebe and Nicolas Lush. Oilers head coach Mike Bara was quick to quell any distractions his players might fall into from the geographic rivalry.
“There was a bit of a lead up knowing that a number of the parents on that club and our club knew each other,” Bara said. “We were given an opportunity because of hard work and commitment to each other and didn’t want to have it ruined by saying it’s these kids from Okotoks
against us.”
The Oilers qualified for the final by the skin of their teeth the day prior.
Turns out the Oilers had overtime heroics in reserve on the weekend. After posting two blowout victories in round-robin play, a 10-3 rout over Notre Dame and a 9-4 thrashing of the Saskatoon Frostbites, Okotoks advanced to the semifinals against the host Swift Current Raiders.
The teams exchanged goals in regulation, but couldn’t find the back of the net in two overtime periods of four-on-four and then three-on-three action.
Rookie Oiler Kade Nagy used his silky smooth hands in the shootout, evidenced in winning a showcase shootout event for Peewee stars at last year’s Mac’s Tournament, to clinch the victory for Okotoks.
“It was one of the dirtiest goals I’ve ever seen,” Bara said. “Everyone jokes around and calls it the Patty Kane. He came in at 100 miles per hour put on the brakes at the hashmarks, made a couple moves and the goaltender didn’t have a chance.”
Guenter led the Oilers with eight goals in Swift Current and was named tournament MVP for his efforts.
“I was just really happy to receive it,” said Guenter, a student at Heritage Heights School. “It wasn’t just me, it was the whole team working together, everyone really stepped up.”
His coach was thrilled to see the hard-working, soft-spoken captain earn the silverware.
“I was so proud of him,” Bara said. “All of that hard work the last couple of months, the struggles this team has had this season (him) getting named MVP was absolutely fantastic.”
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The Swift Current tournament marked a coming out party for Guenter who gained confidence while playing up with the M15 Keystone Raiders in a tournament last week. Teammates Nash Hartford, Cameron Sharrock and Markus Lavallee have also seen ice-time with the Minor Midget AAA team.
“With our record it’s been tough on our kids,” Bara said. “Giving some of these guys that opportunity to play at the next level they have certainly brought that confidence back to us.”
The Oilers have struggled to a 1-13 record in the stacked Challenger South division of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League (AMBHL). Guenter hopes the gold mining in Swift Current is a harbinger of things to come for the Oilers.
“It’s a big boost. It gives a lot of confidence for everyone to bring that back into league play,” Guenter said. “Now we have four wins under our belt.”
The Oilers can add to the tally on Saturday when they host the Calgary Northstar at the Murray Arena at 5:15 p.m.
For more information on the team go to www.ooaaoilerhockey.com.
