There’s a new leading scorer for the Okotoks Oilers.
Second year forward Kade Duell has taken over the mantle with five goals in two games to bring his season total to 18 in an otherwise tough weekend for the Oilers with back-to-back losses to the Chilliwack Chiefs and Cranbrook Bucks.
On Friday, the Chilliwack Chiefs made their mark in their first ever game in Alberta by downing the Oilers by an 8-3 count.
Chilliwack, the top team in the Coastal Conference, scored five goals in the second period with Carter Anderson notching a four-goal performance.
Okotoks netminder Ben Vatis, who joined the team earlier this season, made his debut in relief of starter Olivier Ciarlo. The Arizona born goalie made 25 saves on 27 shots through the latter half of the contest.
Duell continued to swing a hot stick with the second-year forward’s first hat trick with the Jr. A club to highlight the offensive effort for the home team.
The Taber product added two more goals with blueliner Cyle Clayton opening the scoring for the visitors in a 5-3 loss Saturday night in Cranbrook, making it seven goals in four games. His 33 points are second on the team, one back of captain Jackson Rowland.
Okotoks (20-23-1-2) dropped to eighth in the Interior Conference standings following the weekend, one point back of West Kelowna and three ahead of Spruce Grove.
The top eight in each division make the playoffs. The top three seeds in the conference, Penticton, Brooks and Trail, have clinched postseason berths.
The Oilers are back in action next weekend with a road game in Spruce Grove on March 7 followed by a March 8 home date versus the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
For more information, go to okotoksoilers.com.
