The Okotoks Oilers (18-21-2) saw a strong start dissipate in a 4-0 loss to the Sherwood Park Crusaders in a Family Day BCHL clash in front of 1,215 fans at the Viking Rentals Centre.
Following a goalless, but far from action free, first period, the visitors took control with a three-goal middle stanza. Masun Fleece, Kale Dach and Dalton MacGillivray scored in a two-minute span, the latter two on the man advantage.
Christian Chouha rounded out the scoring with a goal on the rush early in period three.
Olivier Ciarlo, who made a number of dynamite saves in the loss, stopped 28 of 32 shots.
The Crusaders evened the season series a 2-2 with the win. The rubber match will also be the regular season finale for both clubs on March 30.
On Saturday, the Oilers rallied to force extra hockey versus the Brooks Bandits with the visitors ending the back-and-forth contest in overtime in a 3-2 triumph.
Brooks’ Davide Patella notched the game winner after Okotoks’ Brett Wilson and rookie forward Ryan Boyce scored an end-to-end goal on the rush to equalize in the third period.
Ciarlo was the game’s deserved first star with 36 saves.
Kelowna product Aiden Bruce, a 2006-born forward who joined the team from the SJHL earlier in the week, made his Oilers debut on Saturday.
This week, Okotoks completes its four-game homestand on Friday, Feb. 21 versus the Vernon Vipers. The Oilers then travel north to battle the Spruce Grove Saints on Feb. 23.
Both Spruce Grove and Vernon are directly below Okotoks in the Interior Conference standings with crucial points up for grabs.
For more information, go to okotoksoilers.com.
