Behind a torrent start and nervous finish the Okotoks Oilers are a win away from the league final.
Behind a torrent start and nervous finish the Okotoks Oilers are a win away from the league final.
Okotoks rode a three-goal first period to a 4-3 victory over the Brooks Bandits in Game 5 of the Alberta Junior Hockey League South Final as the hosts earned the 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series on Friday in front of 2,000 at Pason Centennial Arena.
“It was special having everyone cheer for us,” said Oilers forward Marc Pasemko. “We carried it over from the triple overtime (in Game 4), we saw that the crowd was sold out and built off that.”
The green-and-gold gave the capacity crowd a lot to cheer about in a dominant opening frame.
Okotoks executed a breakout to perfection with linemates Quinn Olson, Kyle Gordon and Austin Wong hooking up on the latter's opening tally just 2:30 into the contest.
Pasemko doubled the lead on a one-timer after being set up by captain Carter Huber just two minutes later.
Blueliner Nick Blankenburg then notched his fifth goal of the post-season, jumping on a rebound off the boards and depositing it past Mitch Beston on the powerplay midway through the frame.
Brooks responded well to close the period and soon found itself on the board when big-bodied centre Pierre-Anthony Martineau fired in a wicked wrist-shot past Okotoks' Riley Morris.
Following a scoreless middle frame, the visitors made a game of it early in period three.
Winger Will Garin scored on the man-advantage just 45 seconds into the final stanza, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
Huber, who leads the Oilers with 13 points in nine playoff games, found the opportune time to score his first goal of the series on the powerplay at the 7:11 mark as Okotoks went 2-for-3 on the man advantage.
The Bandits didn't go away quietly.
Mack Hancock put the 2,000 in attendance on the edge of their seats with his second goal of the series in the final minute of regulation as the Bandits looked to repeat their dramatic last ditch comeback six days earlier in Game 2.
This time, it's as close as they would get.
“We just played our game,” Pasemko said. “In Game 2 we were a little nervous and let them take it to us. This time we didn't let them get set up and were really aggressive.”
Okotoks can wrap up the series in Game 6, Sunday at the Brooks Centennial Regional Arena. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
“We're going to have to get in front of their goalie,” Pasemko added. “When we lose it's because he's seeing too many shots.”
For more information go to okotoksoilers.ca
