The Okotoks Bow Mark Oilers will have to ride out the storm to get through their first playoff series.
The fifth seed Okotoks (17-12-3) meets the fourth seed Lethbridge Hurricanes (17-10-5) in the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League Chrysler Division quarter-final series this week as two evenly matched teams battle to get through the best-of-five opening round set.
“I’m really excited,” said Bow Mark Oilers centre Daxton Budd, one of seven second-year members of the squad. “Last year I was pretty bummed not to make playoffs. It just means so much to be able to compete for a championship, hopefully we will do our best.
“Sixteen of us are moving on to junior next year so this will be a big chance for us to hopefully do well.”
The teams split the season series with Lethbridge taking the most recent result, a 4-2 triumph on Feb. 1. The 'Canes have been strong in the second half of the season, owning a 5-2-2 mark in the new year. Statistically speaking, Lethbridge has been successful with its by-committee offence as just three scorers on the team are north of the 20-point plateau, Colby Garner, Derrien Tonin and Rylan Roersma. Goaltenders Ty Young and Marek Andres have combined for 17 wins.
“Lethbridge is a very well coached hockey team so we’re going to have to ready to play them,” said Bow Mark Oilers head coach Ryan Barrett. “At the end of the day, home ice is going to play some advantage in regards to their rink is quite different from our rink. The challenge there for us is going into that rink and, when we get our opportunities, try to steal some points there.
“They’ve got a lot of depth, there isn’t any one guy on the team that we can say we can take advantage of, all their guys are pretty good and they’re well coached, too, it’s going to make for a challenge.”
Okotoks has four skaters with more than 20 points, led by leading scorer Moe Hakim (16 goals, 34 points), captain Sam Simard, Budd and impressive rookie pivot Liam Watkins.
In goal, Adam Goody paced the squad with 10 wins and Mitch Dudar led the way with a .907 save percentage and 2.61 goals against average.
“I think we match up really well, it will be a close series,” said Budd. “We’re 1 and 1 against them in the regular season, but I think we’re pretty confident we can beat them. Our speed is the main strength throughout the year, using our speed and even our physicality, we’re a big, older team.
“I think desire and want, you see it in the NHL, teams that sacrifice, block shots. I think if we just want it more and use our desire we will be good.”
Okotoks closed the regular season in a competitive 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames on Feb. 15 at Pason Centennial Arena.
Hudson Hall notched his third of the season on a deflection in the third period while Jace Benvie put the result away with an empty-netter in the final minute.
“We finally got healthy,” Barrett said after Saturday’s game. “Today’s the first day in probably about 12 weeks that we’ve actually had a full lineup. It was nice to have all 20 guys together, I think some of the guys maybe didn’t know each other quite as well because they haven’t played together enough.
“It’s kind of exciting to get into the playoffs with the whole group of guys.”
In the other division quarter-final the third-seed Red Deer Chiefs take on the Calgary Northstars. The top-two seeds in the division, Calgary Buffaloes and Flames have byes through the first-round.
“Playing Lethbridge, when we move on from that series it’s going to give us the proper work ethic and proper drive because if you’re going to beat that team you’re going to have to do it the right way,” Barrett said. “When you face those next two teams, either the Buffs or the Flames in the second round, they’re going to prepare us well for that.”
In the North, the St. Albert Raiders and Grande Peace Storm earned the two byes while the divisional quarterfinals pit Fort Saskatchewan against Sherwood Park and Lloydminster versus CAC Gregg Distributors.
For more information on the Bow Mark Oilers go to ooaaoilerhockey.ca
Series schedule
Game 1: Feb. 18, 6:30 p.m. at Logan Boulet Arena
Game 2: Feb. 20, 6:30 p.m. at Pason Centennial Arena
Game 3: Feb. 21, 6:30 p.m. at Logan Boulet Arena
Game 4: Feb. 22, 3:30 p.m. at Pason Centennial Arena
Game 5: Feb. 25, 6:30 p.m. at Logan Boulet Arena
