Let the games begin.
The Okotoks Oilers returned to the ice for practices last week in preparation for the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Return to Play spring campaign kicking-off March 13 when the Brooks Bandits visit Pason Centennial Arena.
“With all the players within this league there’s just that excitement just to be able to compete,” said Oilers head coach Tyler Deis. “I would imagine it will be a lot of exciting hockey, but there’s also going to be a lot of mistakes.
“It’s like training camp all over again, but that’s the cool thing about it.”
After being sidelined since November due to the team sports restrictions resulting from the pandemic, the AJHL was approved to return to the ice for a spring schedule.
The team returned to its first practice since November on March 4.
Not a moment too soon for the Green and Gold.
“It was tough stepping away. I think the guys did pretty good finding ways to work out and different ways to stay active,” said Oilers netminder Brady Parker. “But it’s really nice to be back, just being around the guys too, it’s good for everybody.
“Everyone had a lot of fun out there (at practice). It was pretty light and we’ll be getting into some more stuff this week, but I think everyone just had fun.”
Those practices should ramp up this week as Okotoks readies to meet the challenge of Brooks and the Calgary Canucks with the three teams forming a cohort.
“For this week, we will start going back into things to make sure our game is where it (should be) at,” Deis said. “The majority of the guys here I’ve been with for a long time so it won’t take that long. They know what kind of structure this team plays through.”
Staying sharp during the league pause required some creative solutions and in the case of Parker some opportunities not available in this area.
“I’m from Arizona so I was able to get back down there,” Parker said. “And down there is pretty open so I was skating and had access to a gym. So, for me, it was pretty normal for a little bit and then I came back here and you’ve got a lot of bodyweight (exercises) and outdoor ice.”
Though it’s been a challenge to replicate game situations, the current set-up of practices during the week and games on the weekend should prove invaluable for those on the last line of defence.
“I don’t think anything changes just because normally with just having practices you’ve got to work on something every day and kind of build on something,” Parker said. “We’ll have our games on the weekend and our practice during the week will be just focused on whatever we’ve got to work on, me and Parker (Sawka).
“Just working hard and beating at the stone every day and we’ll be fine.”
What will be different is some of the figures on the lineup card.
The Oilers will have new look lines up-front as top-six centres Jack Works and Louis Jamernik moved up to the NCAA ranks with Denver and North Dakota, respectively.
Okotoks has added Calgary Buffaloes U18 AAA blueliner Sam Moshurchak to its ranks for the spring season who along with the recently added Brett Huxley will fill out its roster.
“It’s one of those things where other guys will have that opportunity to go in and play those roles and have the opportunity to do that,” the coach added. “I think that our depth is pretty good and it will be a really good opportunity for different individuals coming in.”
This weekend’s schedule sees Brooks visit Okotoks on March 13 at 7 p.m. followed by a March 14 matinee with the Oilers making the short trek to Calgary.
Okotoks will play eight games, exclusively on weekends, as part of the cohort before a break in early April after which new team cohorts will be formed.
“We haven’t heard anything about a playoff so you might as well make what you can out of the games we have,” Parker said. “So I think they will be really competitive (games) especially with our grouping with Brooks.”
Spectators are not currently allowed at AJHL games with broadcasts available for streaming through HockeyTV subscription.
“I think a successful weekend will just be guys having a good time, playing for each other, playing for the guy beside them and just playing as a team,” Deis said. “I think that’s the one thing you’re looking at, win or lose, you want these guys to come out playing as a group and as a team.”
And for the players, the chance to compete and play for one another is everything.
“None of us are taking it for granted any more,” Parker said. “Every day on the ice means a lot now so we’re just kind of enjoying it one day at a time.
“And however many games we do get, we get.”
Each weekend during March will see the Jackpots for Junior Hockey online 50-50 with funds being raised for AJHL and WHL teams in the province. The jackpot for the first weekend of March was over $60,000.
For more information on the campaign go to ajhl.ca.
