Thirteen goals and four lead changes – Oilers and Bandits clashes are not for the faint of heart.
The Okotoks Oilers erased a two-goal third period deficit with goals from Sam Huck and Brett Wilson to force overtime where Brooks Bandits sniper Logan Sawyer ended the back-and-forth BCHL contest by a 7-6 score in front of 1,051 supporters Friday at Okotoks Centennial Arenas.
Huck and Wilson scored twice in the contest, the latter notching the equalizer in the final minute of regulation off a sublime kick pass from Huck, with Jagger Tapper and Hayden Fechner tallying the other markers.
Sawyer and Danylo Korzyhyletskyi had two goal nights for the visitors who improved to 10-1-0 in BCHL action while the Oilers dropped to 3-7-1.
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Oilers 2003-born forward Brett Huxley, an alternate captain on the team, made his BCHL debut in the contest after returning from injury.
It’s the Oilers’ first overtime loss since making the switch to the BCHL with the Green and Gold winning its previous two trips to the extra session versus Spruce Grove and Blackfalds.
On Saturday, the Oilers were downed 3-1 by the Saints in Spruce Grove with captain Dean Spak tallying the long goal for the visitors.
The Oilers’ next home date is March 15 against the Sherwood Park Crusaders, a 7 p.m. start. Okotoks is then in Blackfalds the following night.
BCHL playoff format revealed
The BCHL unveiled the playoff format for the Alberta Division this week.
The five-team playoff commences with the best-of-five wildcard series featuring the four versus five seed from April 10-16 followed by the semifinal series from April 19 to May 1 and the finals from May 10-25. The semifinal and final series will be best-of-seven sets.
All five Alberta teams will make the playoffs. Importantly, the winning percentage will be calculated based on the teams’ records in both BCHL and AJHL regular season action.
Okotoks has a combined record of 36-21-3 during the 2023-24 regular season and will likely be in tight contention with the Blackfalds Bulldogs for the number three seed behind Brooks and Sherwood Park.
The BCHL champion out of B.C. will play the Alberta champion to conclude the postseason.
For more information, go to the Oilers’ revamped website at okotoksoilers.com.
