After completing the second best season in franchise history the Oilers took a night to reflect on the 2019-20 campaign.
With the second round of the playoffs set to launch, the Okotoks Oilers held their annual awards night on March 7 to recognize the individuals that make up the collective.
Jack Works, the team’s new single season goals, 43, and points record holder, 92, was one of the big winners on the night earning MVP, Forward of the Year and Top Goal Scorer honours.
“Coming in and losing those type of players we were losing and having the year he had,” said Oilers head coach Tyler Deis. “Having the opportunity, taking the opportunity and just riding with it. He’s the kid that took full advantage of the opportunity he got.”
Hometown rookie Jaevon Buschlen earned Most Improved Player honours for his tireless commitment to get better in all facets, with Deis stressing the player’s dedication on and off the ice.
“Coming in here he was one of those kids that was really focused on getting better, not just on the ice, but off the ice,” the coach added. “His dedication to the game and getter better every day, going to the gym, eating right, just being a better hockey player.”
North Dakota commit Dylan James was named team Rookie of the Year after leading all Oilers freshmen with 20 goals, 23 assists and 43 points.
“It was the dynamics that he brought,” Deis said. “The amount of goals he scored, big goals, just how his game grew throughout the year, his tenacity and the aggression on the fore-check, him using his speed.”
One of the toughest awards to hand out was that of best blueliner.
Okotoks had an embarrassment of riches on the back-end with the likes of Eric Parker, captain Ayden Roche-Setoguchi, Seth Bernard-Docker and top point-producer among blueliners Noah Kim.
Parker, a finalist for league Top Defenceman honours, got the nod.
“We’ve got a lot of good defencemen, I think it’s just his consistency with his game, game in and game out,” Deis said. “Playing him in all situations, powerplay, penalty kill, killing 5-on-3s, defensively, offensively.”
Diminutive winger Zane Kindrachuk earned the Unsung Hero award in recognition of his versatility and ability to thrive in all facets.
“He’s another one like Parker, he plays in all situations,” Deis said. “We rely on him offensively, we rely on him on the penalty kill, powerplay. It’s just that all around hockey player that he brings to our team.”
Louis Jamernik, a relentless skater and body checker on the ice, earned the Oilers’ Rock Solid award.
“Physical, his intensity, he’s always giving it 110 per cent,” Deis said. “The guy always does, practice, games, in the gym, everywhere he goes, he gives it his all.”
Marc Pasemko, a fixture on the Oilers for three seasons and third leading scorer all time on the Green and Gold, was the Greg Wedderburn Award winner
“I don’t know if it’s just this year or just his whole career here,” the coach said. “The time he’s brought to Tanbridge Academy, coming out with the ice times there, being involved in the DARE program and being involved in different programs in the community and also his huge leadership qualities within the team.
“Over the past three years he’s put a lot into this program and given back a lot.”
Goaltender Brady Parker, renowned for his work ethic and focus, earned the Hardest Working Player award.
Ed Seitz, a dedicated member of the Oilers security team who passed away in December at the age of 77, was posthumously named the Volunteer of the Year.
For more information go to okotoksoilers.ca
