Okotoks Oilers look to take advantage of home ice as battle against Brooks Bandits continues
The Okotoks Oilers and Brooks Bandits always seem to face each other in the playoffs, and that's led to a great rivalry between the two clubs.
The Oilers and Bandits are squaring off against each other again this post-season, and Okotoks is back home after gaining a split in the first two games of the series.
The Bandits took Game 1, 3-2, and the Oilers returned the favour in Game 2, beating the Bandits with the same score.
Head coach Tyler Deis says that's exactly what his club was looking for.
"It's a hard rink to play in and at the end of the day, you know, if we could get a split in that rink, we'd definitely be super happy," he said.
"But, you know, it's just one game and it's still a long series here, but we're excited about it and if we can stick to our game plan, good things can happen."
YODER SCORES GAME-WINNER TO EVEN THE SERIES
In Game 2, Ty Yoder ended up scoring the winning goal with six minutes left in the game.
His goal made it 3-1 and the Oilers held on for a 3-2 victory.
He says it's exciting to be back home with the series and explains what happened on the game-winner.
"Well, it started off in the defensive zone," he told CTV News.
"My defenceman pinched in to try and make an offensive play and the breakout went to (Brett) Huxley and I just busted the zone and was fortunate enough to get the puck and get a breakaway and score."
SAWKA DENIES FINK ON PENALTY SHOT
Yoder wasn't the only hero for the Oilers.
Earlier in the third period, AJHL MVP Aiden Fink was awarded a penalty shot, but he couldn't beat Parker Sawka.
Sawka says he felt pretty calm.
"I wouldn't say I was nervous at all," he said.
"Like, I didn't really feel nervous. I was more excited for the opportunity. Like, it's cool, the best player in the league coming down, so it's kind of a big opportunity for myself to kind of prove to everyone that I can stop him."
BIG RIVALRY
The Oilers say now it's important they take advantage of home ice.
Deis says he never has any trouble getting his players ready to play the Bandits.
"It's kind of an exciting thing, right? We've always created this great rivalry against them," he said.
"I believe they enjoy playing against us and it's just one of those ones that over the past six or seven years, it's just one of those when the two teams get together, it's going to be good hockey."
Game 3 is on Tuesday night and Game 4 is on Wednesday night.
Puck drop for both games will be at 7 p.m. at Centennial Arena in Okotoks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.