Okotoks' historic surge out of the gates hit its first bump in the road.
Okotoks' historic surge out of the gates hit its first bump in the road.
The Okotoks Oilers saw their season opening 10-game winning streak finally halted in the battle of the top two teams in the Alberta Junior Hockey League as the visiting Fort McMurray Oil Barons hung on for a 4-2 triumph in front of a season high 1372 fans Friday at the Tara Roe Memorial Game at Pason Centennial Arena.
“It's huge competition. Playing one of the top teams in the South there is always that North-South rivalry,” said Blackie's Liam Izyk, Oil Barons alternate captain. “We want to be the better division and winning over the top team sends a huge statement.”
Okotoks fired 28 pucks on goal in the final 40 minutes after the teams played to an even opening frame.
Marc Pasemko got Okotoks on the board just 1:40 into the contest on a breakaway for the rookie forward's second of the year.
The Oil Barons' 15th ranked powerplay bucked the trend and evened the score on the man-advantage five minutes later on a JC Thivierge point shot.
Jack Verstraete gave the Oil Barons their first lead in the middle frame as the visitors cycle game took over for a marathon shift.
“We were pretty lackadaisical off the start and surged towards the end,” said Oilers forward Tanner Laderoute. “You're not going to win too many games like that. It was good to see us battle and stay together, but if we play like that from the start there is no way that game goes that tight like that.”
Against the run of play the Oil Barons made it a two-goal advantage.
Izyk was in the right spot at the right time to tip in a pass in the slot at the 9:48 mark in the third period to snuff the Oilers rally.
Not for long.
Sophomore Austin Wong barrelled into the crease and slid the puck past Oil Baron Eric Szudor on a diving effort with 8:10 left in regulation to cut the deficit to one.
That's as close as the green-and-gold would get.
Szudor stood tall amidst wave after wave of Oilers attacks, making 35 saves to pick up his sixth win of the season.
“The biggest thing was staying composed,” Izyk said. “Everyone knows their job and to keep it simple. We're getting pucks out, getting it deep, getting changes and making sure we're not getting hemmed in. You've got to battle through it.”
At the other end of the ice Okotoks rookie netminder Ben Howard suffered his first loss in 10 games, stopping 25 of 27 shots.
“It's a tough loss. No one likes to see a perfect record go, but we're not going to go for 60 (wins),” Laderoute said. “Now you don't have to think about the streak as much, but we also have to think like we want to win every game. We want to go 59-1.”
Okotoks (10-1-0) goes for its third win in three tries versus the defending champion Brooks Bandits to close out the weekend with a 4:15 p.m. matinee on Pack the Rink Night Oct. 15 at Pason Centennial Arena.
“Everyone can get up for Brooks,” Laderoute said. “It's not hard. Everyone knows, even the guys who are rookies and have never played them before, they know. It's easy to get going off puck drop.”
Memorial Night
A season high 1372 fans came out in support of the Roe family on Friday.
Prior to puck-drop a moment of silence was held for Roe, an Okotokian and victim of the Las Vegas massacre on Oct. 1. Spectators wore purple in support of the family while funds raised from the purple ticket sales during the week will be donated to the Roe-Smith family.
Three Stars
1. Eric Szudor. Tremendous poise under pressure and rebound control in stuffing Oilers comeback.
2. Austin Wong. Great energy, tremendous goal and at the centre of third period surge.
3. Liam Izyk. Game winning goal, steady 200-foot play from the well-rounded centre.
By the Numbers
Okotoks' 10-game season opening win streak tied for the fifth longest in AJHL history. The 2012-13 Bandits own the record with a staggering 20-game run to open its campaign. The Oilers' previous best start was five straight in the 2008-09 season.
