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Thrilling Okotoks Oilers comeback falls short in OT loss to Bandits

Okotoks' Sam Huck and Brett Wilson score twice in BCHL barnburner
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The Okotoks Oilers were downed 7-6 in overtime by the Brooks Bandits in a BCHL barnburner on March 8 at Okotoks Centennial Arenas (Remy Greer/Western Wheel File Photo)

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.

https://twitter.com/OkotoksOilers/status/1766379210678173873

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.

Okotoks and Spruce Grove meet again on Saturday, March 9.

The Oilers’ next home date is March 15 against the Sherwood Park Crusaders.

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.


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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