After a promising start the Okotoks Bantam AA Oilers crashed out in their quest for a provincial banner.
The Oilers ratcheted off three impressive victories at the Bantam AA Major provincials in Medicine Hat advanced to the semifinal only to be clubbed aside at the hands of the St. Albert Bears 7-3 on March 17.
“In the last game we came out a bit slow and weren’t moving the puck as well as in the first three games and just collapsed on ourselves and didn’t help out our goalies by taking lots of penalties,” said Oilers pivot Wyatt Derksen.
Okotoks entered the semifinal on a low note after suffering its first defeat of the tournament in the round-robin finale, a 3-2 loss to SSAC from Edmonton with both teams already qualified for the playoff round.
“We just started falling apart and bickering at each other and were getting really mad because they were running our goalie,” Derksen said. “And we weren’t really sticking up for our goaltender and the frustrations were taking a toll on the team.”
The frustrations were a surprise after the Oilers skated to a dream start to the tournament in beating league rival Sylvan Lake 11-10 and the host Medicine Hat Venom 5-3 on March 15. They then trounced Fort McMurray 8-1 on March 16.
“It was good to beat the two teams we lost to in the season. It was a good start to the tournament,” said Oilers blueliner Nicholas Vanderheyden. “We were just finding the back of the net and finding a way to win.”
Fortunately for the Oilers, they will get another shot at a banner this week when they square off with the Wheatland Warriors in the South Central Alberta Hockey League championship series.
“The memories of losing in the semifinals, we can take that into the league finals,” Vanderheyden said. “I think we will be more pumped up for league because that’s our last chance to win.
“I think we’ll match up good and have a pretty good chance to win.”
Wheatland knocked off Sylvan Lake, the top-team in the North Division, en route to the final. Okotoks won the season series by earning a 3-2 win and a 1-1 tie with the Strathmore club.
“They’re a physical team and a very talented bunch,” Derksen said. “But if we come out with our A-game we will take them.”
The best-of-five series starts March 21, 6 p.m. at Murray Arena in Okotoks. Game 2 is March 23 at the Pason Centennial Arena at 3:15 p.m.
Provincial round-up
No Okotoks team came closer to the provincial banner this weekend than the Bantam A Oilers.
The Oilers advanced through the round-robin portion of the Bantam A provincials in Stettler after recording wins over Grande Prairie, Westwood and Sherwood Park and losing just once to Olds.
Okotoks was paired with Whitecourt in the semifinal and prevailed 4-3 with Matthew Scott registering the game-winner in overtime.
However, the Oilers dropped the provincial final 5-3 to the host Stettler Storm on March 17.
At the Bantam A female provincials in Edmonton, the Oilers skated to an impressive record of 2-1-1, but with five points finished one point shy of qualification into the playoff round. Okotoks earned victories over St. Albert and Fairview, tied Sherwood Park and lost to the hosts from Edmonton.
The Bantam Tier II Oilers finished out of the playoff round at the Bantam B provincials in Slave Lake. Okotoks finished 1-2, losing to Edson and Slave Lake and picking up a win over Stettler.
In Forestburg, the Bantam Tier III Oilers had their Bantam C provincial dreams dashed in the semifinal, a 4-0 loss to Smoky Lake. Okotoks was perfect in pool play, registering wins over Drumheller and Hythe.
The Hockey Alberta provincials continue this weekend with the majority of the Midget-level tournaments being held. Go to www.hockeyalberta.ca for full schedules and results from the provincials.
