Skip to content

Bow Mark Oilers clinch first playoff spot in team history

Hockey: Okotoks Midget AAA team post-season bound after weekend split
Bowmark Oilers 0269
The Okotoks Bow Mark Oilers celebrate a goal on the Airdrie CFR Bisons earlier this season. Okotoks clinched a playoff spot over the weekend. (BRENT CALVER/Western Wheel)

The Okotoks Bow Mark Oilers are going where they’ve never gone before.

In their third season in the Alberta Midget Hockey League the Oilers will be playing playoff hockey for the first time after clinching one of six berths in the Chrysler Division’s post-season.

“It’s been the number one goal since we started the process in tryouts,” said Bow Mark Oilers head coach Ryan Barrett. “We knew what we wanted to do, that first step was to make the playoffs and then from there we’ve got our goals to win the first-round and go from there.

“With this team not making the playoffs the last two years it was really important we got that playoff opportunity for our guys.”

Okotoks finished in seventh position, just on the outside of the playoff picture, its last two seasons as it grew its Midget AAA program since being awarded a team for the 2017-18 campaign.

“A lot of the guys that played last year felt pretty good about it and the new guys that came in were proud of the fact they were part of the first team to do that since the inception of the team,” the coach added.

“But at the end of the day, it boils down to not having that let down after the fact.

“Now’s the time to prepare for those playoffs.”

At 16-8-3, the Oilers sit second in the Chrysler Division with 35 points, six back of the top-seed Calgary Buffaloes and two clear of the Calgary Flames, Lethbridge Hurricanes and Red Deer Chiefs.

Okotoks’ 6-1 win over the Lloydminster Bobcats on Jan. 25 made the playoff goal a reality.

“We had a lot more energy than before some of that break we had,” Barrett said. “We haven’t played a game in about two weeks and we gave the guys some extended time off to recover from hockey, but also give them enough opportunity to study for exams and all the different challenges for school.

“I think some time off really helped us. We played a good 60 minutes that game.”

Mitch Dudar made 18 saves for the win, captain Sam Simard scored twice, Moe Hakim and Ethan MacIntyre lit the lamp with call-up Ty Hipkin from the Foothills AA Bisons adding two goals of his own. Affiliate blueliners Cyle Clayton and Avery Greig also impressed.

The Oilers lost the back-end of the road trip 6-1 on Jan. 26 in Fort Saskatchewan, a score that might have flattered the Rangers.

“We played really well and it was one of those days where the puck just didn’t go our way,” Barrett said. “I wouldn’t say it was a let down from the effort side, it was one of those days where the puck just didn’t go for us. And we learned a lot.”

Okotoks is back on home ice to kick-off February with Lethbridge in town on Feb. 1, a 6:30 p.m. start at Pason Centennial Arena.

The Oilers then battle the Buffs on Feb. 2 at the Cardel Rec Centre.

For more information go to ooaaoilerhockey.ca


Remy Greer

About the Author: Remy Greer

Remy Greer is the assistant editor and sports reporter for westernwheel.ca and the Western Wheel newspaper. For story tips contact [email protected]
Read more



Comments

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks