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Oilers light the lamp in home finale

For it all to come down to tomorrow the Okotoks Oilers first had to take care of today.
Okotoks Oilers defenceman Riley Mathies celebrates a third period goal during the team’s 10-1 win over the Calgary Mustangs on March 3 at Pason Centennial Arena.
Okotoks Oilers defenceman Riley Mathies celebrates a third period goal during the team’s 10-1 win over the Calgary Mustangs on March 3 at Pason Centennial Arena.

For it all to come down to tomorrow the Okotoks Oilers first had to take care of today.

Okotoks put on an offensive clinic in front of a season high 1,546 fans in its final regular season showing on home-ice in a 10-1 triumph over the Calgary Mustangs Friday at Pason Centennial Arena to stay in a tie for second place in the South with one game remaining on the season.

“We had a hard week of practice and focused on practicing the right way knowing how big the points are this weekend,” said Oilers alternate captain Carter Huber. “We came into this game just trying to ramp up the intensity moving into the playoffs.”

Linemates Austin Wong and Jordie Lawson opened the floodgates for the offensive explosion with first period markers. An even strength goal from Tanner Laderoute and shorthanded marker from Cory Santoro doubled the advantage to 4-0 after two periods.

Riley Mathies made it a five-goal lead in the opening minute of the final frame followed by a Carson Beers tally. Jordan Xavier and Trey DeGraaf then found the back of the net and the rout was on.

Mathies dropped the mitts with Brock Sotille in a spirited donnybrook to finish an assist shy of the Gordie Howe hat-trick.

No hats would be thrown on the ice on this evening, though a pair of prolific forwards added two goal performances.

Laderoute and Xavier both potted their second of the evening and 25th of the season to round out the scoring.

Calgary’s Rylan Plante-Crough spoiled the Riley Morris shutout bid with a third period goal.

“All of our lines were clicking. We found some chemistry with some different combinations,” Huber added. “We tried to get lots of pucks on net, with 52 shots on goal. That was the main goal.”

That goal was buoyed by a big assist from the spectators.

Pason was packed to the rafters with a season high attendance of boisterous support.

“That’s the biggest crowd I’ve played in front of. For me, that was energy boosting right from the start,” Huber said “To play in front of fans like that you’ve got to show well. “We’ve been working hard this year getting in the community and trying to build up a good rapport and we think we have a good fan base.”

The Oilers, tied for second with the Calgary Canucks and two points up on the Canmore Eagles, take their show on the road one last time with a lot on the line.

Okotoks’ trip to Canmore on Saturday is for more than taking in the scenery.

If the Eagles are able to win the game in regulation they would leap into the second seed as owners of the first tiebreaker, regulation wins.

The Oilers, meanwhile, need just one point on Saturday to sew up the coveted number two slotting.

The Canucks, who have completed their regular season schedule with 78 points, are locked into the third seed.

Puck-drop for the crucial season finale is 7 p.m. at the Canmore Recreation Centre.

“We just have to approach it like it’s Game 7 of the playoffs,” Huber said. “Everyone on this team wants to go far in the playoffs and we know that starts tomorrow night.

“We’re going to have to bring it.”


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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