Two Okotoks Oilers who often share the blueline together found collegiate homes in the same state.
Rylan Brown committed to Michigan Tech University Huskies on Nov. 22 and three days later veteran defenceman Kade Turner secured his NCAA landing spot at Ferris State University Bulldogs in a banner week of commitments for the Alberta Junior Hockey League team.
Both Michigan Tech, based in Houghton, and Ferris State, in Big Rapids, Michigan, compete in the NCAA’s Central Collegiate Hockey Association against the likes of Bemidji State, Bowling Green and Minnesota State.
Brown, a 2005-born rearguard, was acquired in late-October from the Drayton Valley Thunder and has made an instant impact as a puck-moving presence on the back-end with seven points in 10 games with the Oil.
The son of former NHLer Sean Brown, who happens to be the head coach and GM of Drayton Valley, the smooth-skating defenceman was named to the AJHL’s All-Rookie Team in the North Division in 2021-22.
Turner, a 2003-born blueliner in his second season with Okotoks, leads the Okotoks defence corps with 22 points in 27 games.
A product of the Calgary Buffaloes system, Turner was a key cog in a strong Oilers rookie class on defence in 2021-22, contributing 26 points as a freshman in the AJHL.
The total of Oilers skaters with NCAA Division 1 commitments is six as Turner and Brown join a group that includes the Arizona State bound Conry Hellyer and Connor Gourley, Western Michigan commit Sam Huck and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) commit Jagger Tapper.
Tough homestand
Okotoks (16-10-3) saw its losing streak hit three games with a loss on home-ice and a defeat that was reversed due to an ineligible lineup being ice by its opposition on Nov. 25-26.
The Drayton Valley Thunder took an 8-3 result on Friday with a dominant final 40 minutes from the visitors. Travis Verbeek scored four times as the Thunder struck for seven in the second and third periods.
Dean Spak, Hellyer and rookie Jackson Rowland provided the offence for the home team.
On Saturday, the Sherwood Park Crusaders picked up their first win in Okotoks since the 2015 campaign with a 3-1 triumph at the Centennial Arenas.
The result of the fixture, however, was reversed with the Crusaders 'found to be in violation of Article 11.1 (eligibility of players), the road team forfeit is now considered a regulation win for Okotoks.
Ty Yoder scored a third period tally for Okotoks with the Crusaders backstopped by a 33-save performance from Erick Roest in goal. Oilers rookie goalie Alexander Scheiwiller made 15 saves on 18 shots.
This week, Okotoks will look to bump the mini-slump on the road with stops in Spruce Grove and Camrose on Dec. 2 and 3.
For more information, go to okotoksoilers.ca.
