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Road less travelled brings Okotokian home to Oilers

Hockey: Riley Bodnarchuk flourishing as experienced leader on defence
SPORTS-Oilers v Blackfalds Bulldogs BWC 0816_1
Okotoks Oilers defenceman Riley Bodnarchuk battles Blackfalds Bulldogs forward Kai Matthew for possession at Pason Centennial Arena on Dec. 11.

It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.

But for Okotoks Oilers alternate captain Riley Bodnarchuk it’s difficult to separate the two on his unusual path to a spot on his hometown team after stops in four other Alberta Junior Hockey League markets over the past five seasons.

“Obviously that’s not something you want to be doing,” said Bodnarchuk of the turnover. “But it’s nice to be in my hometown, where I grew up and watched the Okotoks Oilers play and it’s nice to be playing in the home rink, for the home team.

“That’s something I always wanted to do, so I’m glad I finally got back here. It’s kind of surreal.”

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound blueliner — one of just five 2001-born skaters on the Oilers — has a career high 15 points in just 19 games with the Green and Gold.

“It’s big,” he said. “It’s my last year in the AJ and getting to come back home, and I’m glad it worked out the way it did.”

Prior to joining Okotoks during the off-season, Bodnarchuk was a member of the Calgary Mustangs in his rookie season of 2018-19, spent time with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons and Spruce Grove Saints the following season and was a leader on the Calgary Canucks during the pandemic shortened 2020-21 campaign.

“There’s been quite a few things in how teams go about things, it’s different everywhere,” Bodnarchuk said. “I think the way Okotoks goes about things is very good, it’s a very professional organization.

“Being on teams like Spruce Grove you get to see good leaders in action and you can definitely bring back some points that you can bring back to Okotoks.”

Bodnarchuk, a member of the inaugural Bow Mark Oilers U18 AAA squad in 2017-18, is one of three alternate captains this season along with forwards Brendan Boyle and Ethan Jamernik.

“Being able to have a letter on my chest is a big responsibility, for sure, and I don’t take it lightly,” he said. “For all of the young guys on the team I just have to be there for them and support them.”

The mentorship role is especially pronounced on the blueline.

Captain Tucker McRae and Bodnarchuk are the only veterans amongst the eight defencemen, with Logan Magowan and Sam Moshurchak seeing limited action last season and Kade Turner, Nicholas Wolfenberg, Brody Maguire and Jamie Weller brand new to junior hockey.

“It’s really cool being able to teach the guys and watch them learn,” he added. “A lot of them have improved so much throughout the year.
“I was out (injured) for a bit there and Tucker had a stretch where he was out and watching (the young defencemen) improve as they got a lot of ice time. It’s very cool to watch and fun to be a leader for them.

“I think we have a lot of potential on the back-end for sure. They now have a lot of experience under their belt and in the second-half they can really take off.”
As the Oilers lineup continues to trickle back to full-health, something the team has battled throughout the season particularly through October and November, it’s starting to show what it can do, he added.

“We definitely went through a bit of a rough patch there where we had a lot of guys out,” Bodnarchuk said. “Coming out of it now where we have a lot of guys back in the lineup, still a few more to come, and I think we’re definitely on an upward swing here.
“I think the second-half of the season we can really take off.”

Home stretch

Okotoks (16-18-1) wrapped up its pre-holiday schedule at home on Dec. 16 by doubling up the visiting Grande Prairie Storm 6-3 at Pason Centennial Arena.

Bodnarchuk, McRae, Boyle, Jamernik, Rieger Lorenz and Sam Huck all found the back of the net in the victory.

The Oilers then fell 4-3 in Drumheller to the Dragons on Dec. 17

Lorenz scored twice with Boyle adding the other marker on the road.

The Oilers are back on the ice one more time before the calendar turns as they take on the Calgary Canucks on New Year’s Eve at the Max Bell Centre.

Okotoks’ next home date is Jan. 3 versus the Camrose Kodiaks.

For more information go to okotoksoilers.ca


Remy Greer

About the Author: Remy Greer

Remy Greer is the assistant editor and sports reporter for westernwheel.ca and the Western Wheel newspaper. For story tips contact [email protected]
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