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Bantam Oilers fight back for league title

Turns out the Okotoks Bantam AA Oilers are a pretty dangerous team when backed into a corner.
Okotoks Bantam AA Oilers forward Connor Poffenroth battles with his opposite number West Central Tiger Ashlain Dufresne during Game 3 of the SCAHL league championship on
Okotoks Bantam AA Oilers forward Connor Poffenroth battles with his opposite number West Central Tiger Ashlain Dufresne during Game 3 of the SCAHL league championship on March 19 at Murray Arena.

Turns out the Okotoks Bantam AA Oilers are a pretty dangerous team when backed into a corner.

Okotoks fought off an early deficit to win two straight and claim the South Central Alberta Hockey League championship with a 4-2 victory over the West Central Tigers in the winner-take-all Game 3 Sunday afternoon at Murray Arena to clinch a spot at the Bantam AA provincials.

“We knew this was going to be tough,” said Okotoks head coach Mike Glawson. “First one goes to overtime, yesterday (Game 2) goes to double overtime. We fought all year to get home ice advantage and if it went to Game 3 we wanted to be playing here.

“We told the kids it was going to be the team that wanted it the most and that’s kind of what it came down to.”

The Sylvan Lake based Tigers got the early lead in the best-of-three final in a 3-2 overtime triumph Thursday in Okotoks on a Bryn Hoiland tally.

Kai Uchacz and J.J. Pickell scored for Okotoks while Dru Krebs added two assists.

Okotoks worked its way back even in a dramatic double overtime 2-1 victory Saturday in Bentley to keep its season alive.

“Overtime hasn’t treated us very well this year so the kids were a little bit nervous,” Glawson said. “But the guys just really wanted it and really put their nose to the grindstone and got it done.

“Our bus ride up there was probably the quietest it’s ever been. They were really focused and knew what was at stake.”

Easton Inglis popped in a rebound on a powerplay at the 18:36 mark of the second-overtime period.

“Liam Watkins took a shot off the far pad and I just banged it home,” Inglis said. “Everybody was pretty happy.”

The series clincher saw the Oilers break the game wide-open with a three-goal second period to break a 1-1 tie after an even first 20 minutes.

“We got back to the little things we’ve been doing all year long,” the coach added. “Sometimes our team tends to get too fancy and we made sure we addressed that at the first intermission. We got back to chipping pucks in deep and forcing turnovers.”

Uchacz, the team’s top point producer in the regular season, played a major part in the offensive surge with two goals in nine minutes. “The first one was on a chip play, I went down the wall shot it off the post and in,” Uchacz said. “Right after that, Jace Whaley shot it up the ice, I went on a breakaway and I shot it (off the water bottle).”

Blueliner Boogie Blackwater made it a three-goal lead with a powerplay marker with four minutes remaining in the period before the Tigers struck in the final minute on a shorthanded break from Myles Hilman.

From there, the Oilers battened down the hatches and relied on unflappable goaltender Gage Alexander to shut the door on a comeback bid.

“We just played simple hockey,” Inglis said of closing the game out. “Got pucks deep, were physical and took a lot of shots.”

The league banner is Okotoks’ first in four seasons since the club won back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013.

“It shows that Okotoks is continually every year producing good hockey players,” Glawson said. “And hockey players that are moving up the ladder. There are a number of guys on this team who will make the jump to AAA next year … The future looks pretty bright for Okotoks hockey.”

In the near-term, the Oilers prepare for a provincial journey hosted by league rival Olds from March 30 to April 2. Also competing will be the Northern champs from Fort McMurray and the Calgary Wranglers.

“Our team when we have the work ethic going and we’re chipping pucks in deep a lot of teams can’t handle our team down low,” Glawson said. “It’s going to be attention to detail and managing the puck and making sure we have that work ethic.”


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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