The Bow Mark Oilers weathered the storm to go skate for skate on the opening weekend of the season.
In 18UAAA action, Okotoks picked up a pair of ties sandwiched in between by a narrow loss to take two points from a three-game set to open the Alberta Elite Hockey League season versus the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
“Their goalies were very good, but it was an enjoyable experience playing them, they’re a very good team,” said Bow Mark Oilers forward Aidan McArthur. “It was pretty tough how they’ve been coming back, but we have been too.”
Lead changes and late comebacks were a part of all three matchups of the South Division foes, meeting for the first time since the ‘Canes eliminated the Oilers from the playoffs
in February.
The first contest on Oct. 15 saw the visiting ‘Canes tally in the final five minutes through Joel Mabin to produce the 3-3 result.
Connor Poffenroth, McArthur and Conyr Hellyer all provided first-period goals for the Oilers. McArthur found the back of the net in highlight reel fashion, toe-dragging his way around a ‘Canes defenceman before snapping the wrist shot home.
“It was a great confidence booster for the start of the year and a great way to start my first year playing Bow Mark,” McArthur said. “I saw their guy coming through at the last minute and saw an open lane going to the middle and took it through.”
Lethbridge took the second game of the set on home ice by a 4-3 score despite Okotoks outshooting the ‘Canes by a 38-29 margin.
Poffenroth scored late in the second, early in the third and captain Liam Watkins tallied a powerplay goal as Okotoks scored three unanswered to climb back from a 3-0 hole.
Ty Fraser then notched the game-winner in the final five minutes for the hosts.
Okotoks saved its best for last, pouring it on in the series finale with 42 shots on goal, yet were held to the 2-2 scoreline on Oct. 18.
Watkins evened the score in the final six minutes of regulation on the powerplay after Hayden Pakkala tallied in the early going for Okotoks.
“We got a lot of shots on net and were playing hard and playing physical,” McArthur said.
The Bow Mark Oilers take a two-week hiatus from game action before they join a new cohort for a three-game set versus the CFR Bisons, starting Nov. 6 in Airdrie with the lone home date on Nov. 7 in Okotoks.
“At the start I had heard that it would be just skills and no games, but it’s very good being in a game situation again,” McArthur said. “I heard (the Bisons) are going to be very good. So we’ve got to be competitive with them as well.”
Also in AEHL action, the Okotoks 16UAAA Oilers opened their campaign on Oct. 17 with a 3-1 triumph over the AC avalanche.
Will Harris, Kolten Kuryk and Ethan Moore provided the goals with netminder Matthew Dovichak turning aside 16 of 17 shots. The two teams meet again on Oct. 24 at Pason Centennial Arena.
In U15AAA action, the Airdrie Xtreme and Okotoks Oilers skated to a 2-2 tie in the season icebreaker on Oct. 17. Logan Anderson and Nash Wassing scored for Okotoks while Marek Schlenker made 29 saves. The Xtreme took the second contest by a 5-4 score. The final of the three-game set goes Oct. 24 in Okotoks.
For more information on AAA hockey in the Foothills go to ooaaoilerhockey.ca.
