Following a loss to Brooks last Tuesday, the Okotoks Junior A Oilers were looking for a bounce-back effort at home Friday and they accomplished that in a big way.
Okotoks bounced South Division rival Camrose 6-2 at the Centennial Arena on Friday night, moving the Oilers 18 points clear of the third-place Kodiaks (26-17-5).
The Oilers are in first-place in the Alberta Junior Hockey League South Division with a 39-9-5 record.
The squad then followed that up with a 4-3 win in Olds over the Grizzlys the next day.
The Oilers erased a two-goal third period deficit and stole the road victory thanks to a Nolan Huysmans marker with eight seconds left in regulation.
The Oilers got off to a fast start on Friday, taking a 2-1 lead into the first intermission against Camrose.
After Camrose tied the game at two in the second period, Okotoks restored their two-goal lead with a powerplay marker from Kyle Reynolds and goal from Josh Clark.
Oiler Colten Hayes ensured there would be no third-period comeback with two goals in the final frame to put the finishing touches on a 6-2 victory.
Hayes, predictably, picked up “Home Star” honours for his efforts.
Michael Tadjdeh, fresh off playing two games for the Western Hockey League’s Brandon Wheat Kings, picked up the win in goal. The Oilers’ netminder made 24 saves on 26 shots.
Dalyn Flette got the start for Camrose and allowed six goals on 36 shots.
The Oilers powerplay was the catalyst for the victory as it recorded three goals on seven opportunities.
Following the win, Okotoks took to the road to prepare for a Saturday night clash with Olds.
The Oilers entered the contest looking to exact revenge for a 4-3 home shootout loss to the Grizzlys on Jan. 11.
The loss spoiled the Oilers’ bid to break their club-record 13 game winning streak — Okotoks had won 12 straight going into the game.
After a scoreless first period, Olds jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the Oilers responded courtesy of Reynolds to cut the lead in half.
Olds’ Bart Moran made it 3-1 before the second period was out on an unassisted marker.
While the prospects of victory were beginning to look bleak, the Oilers still had 20 minutes to close the gap.
Okotoks’ Jonathan Turk gave his club life by making it 3-2 with a goal just 35 seconds into the third. Joel Johnson evened things up with a goal nine minutes later, assisted by Reid Simmonds.
With overtime looming, Nolan Huysmans potted the go-ahead goal with just eight seconds left in the game.
The goal sent a shell-shocked crowd home disappointed and gave the Oilers a 4-3 road victory.
Former Oiler Riley Parker took the loss for Olds, surrendering four goals on 30 shots.
Tadjdeh got his second win of the weekend with a 29-save effort.
The Oilers will look to continue their winning ways on Saturday, Jan. 29 with a re-match against the Kodiaks.
The club is hoping to play in front of a sold-out Centennial Arena, due to their “Pack the Rink” promotion. Puck drop will be at 7 p.m.
