The Okotoks Junior A Oilers were able to stare down a Grizzly last week, but now they are heading into the home of a Kodiak.

The Oilers outlasted the pesky Olds Grizzlys 3-2 in overtime in an Alberta Junior Hockey League game Friday in Olds.

Okotoks Oiler Nolan Huysmans heads up the ice game against the Drayton Valley Thunder on Saturday at the Centennial Arena. photo by Rick Northrop

Despite the win Oilers coach Garry VanHereweghe isn’t brushing this off as just a good road game.

It’s a good win period.

“Olds is a tough team to play in any barn,” he said. “They are a team that puts their work clothes on and digs deep in the trenches. A real character team.”

The Oilers had to work overtime to get their two points against the Grizzlys.

John McInnis got the Oilers’ winner with a goal three minutes into the four-on-four overtime period with Brandon Hoogenboom and Jordan Principalli getting assists.

The Oilers got on the scoreboard first when Barrett scored to give Okotoks an early 1-0 lead.

The Grizzlys tied the game at 1-1 on a short-handed goal from Jordan Kwas early in the second period.

Although VanHereweghe was pleased with the win and, for the most part the Oilers’ effort, the powerplay was a concern.

“I thought we got out-worked and out-played on the powerplay,” VanHereweghe said.

The Oilers’ powerplay wasn’t totally lifeless. The Oilers’ regained their one-goal lead when Justin Cochrane scored a powerplay goal in the second period.

The Grizzlys tied the game with a powerplay marker in the third period to send the game into overtime.

Oiler Sean Cahill picked up the win in goal turning away 38 shots.

The Oilers got a reminder that every team is tough in the AJHL when some Thunder gave the fans at the Centennial Arena a scare on Saturday night.

Okotoks beat the Drayton Valley Thunder, the last-place team in the North Division, 4-2 on Saturday.

“We didn’t take them lightly,” VanHereweghe said of the Thunder. “Sure they are in last place but they are only eight points out of a playoff spot. They are playing for their playoff lives.”

The Thunder took a 2-1 lead in the second period before the Oilers’ scored three unanswered goals for the 4-2 victory.

Cochrane tied the game at 2-2 midway through the second period and the scrappy Jonathan Turk gave the Oilers a 3-2 lead with two minutes remaining in the period.

Oiler captain Chris Duszynski added an insurance goal with two minutes left in regulation to make the final 4-2.

Hoogenboom had scored a goal for Okotoks in the first period.

Oiler rookie Michael Matyas was in net for Okotoks while former Oiler Braely Torris took the loss for the Thunder.

The Oilers now sit just sit three points back of the first-place Camrose Kodiaks in the South Division with a 31-16-0-2 record. The Kodiaks have 67 points but have played two more games than the Oilers.

The two teams meet in a four-point game on Thursday in Camrose.

The Oilers then play the Calgary Royals in Calgary on Monday at Father Bauer Arena at 7 p.m.

They are back at the Centennial Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 2 to take on the Grizzlys at 7 p.m.

However, four Oilers will be playing this weekend.

Forwards Derek Rodwell and Brandon Hoogenboom along with Cahill and defenceman Quinn Sproule will suit up for the South Division in the AJHL all-star game Saturday in Fort McMurray.

Rodwell is one of the South’s captains.

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