The Okotoks Oilers (34-19-1-2) continue their chase for 2nd place in the AJHL South division as they take on the Brooks Bandits (49-5-1-1) who look to go 5-0 against their big South rivals in a Friday night matchup.
Last time out
The Oilers collected their 34th win of the season in a commanding 5-1 victory over the Calgary Canucks back on Family Day.
Conyr Hellyer notched his 30th goal of the campaign making him the 15th player in Oilers history to score 30 goals in a season. Connor Gourley scored the other goal for the Oilers allowing them to take a 2-0 lead into the second period.
Affiliate Carter Matthews tallied his first AJHL goal in the second period making it 3-0 Oilers. However a Parker Sawka giveaway would allow the Canuck’s Zephyr LaPlante to cut the lead down to 2 just a little over a minute into the 3rd period.
Luckily the Oilers ‘Zeth Kindrachuk’ and ‘Nolan Flint’ would add to the lead and solidify the win for the Oilers.
Sam Huck collected 3 assists in the win and Parker Sawka made 19 stops on 20 shots in his first game back from injury.
For the Bandits they last played on Family Day where despite trailing the game, a 3rd period comeback paved the way for their 49th win of the season over the Drumheller Dragons with the final score being 2-1.
Sam Court and Hunter Wallace collected the goals for the Bandits. Meanwhile Ethan Barwick collected his league leading 42nd win of the year.
Previous matchups
The Oilers and Bandits last played each other February 10 in Okotoks where the Bandits won 4-0.
Mikhail Simchuk, Caelan Fitzpatrick, Heath Armstrong each collected 2 points in the game. Goalie Ethan Barwick collected his 6th shutout on the year stopping all 21 shots he faced.
Nathan Free and Aiden Fink have had the Oilers numbers this year as Free has 6 points in 4 games and Fink has 4 goals in 4 games against the Oilers this year.
Standings
The Bandits sit well on top of the AJHL with 100 points on the year, they have clinched the division but still look to clinch the league. The Oilers are 5th in the AJHL and 3rd in the AJHL South division with 71 points on the year.
What has worked
The Oilers’ top line of Sam Huck, Zeth Kindrachuk, Conyr Hellyer have been dynamite for the Oilers having a combined total of 67 goals and 160 total points.
The team sits 4th in the league on the penalty kill with 84.3% effectiveness. The do sit second in the league in shorthanded goals for with 15 goals. Conyr Hellyer with 5 and Sam Huck with 4, sit 1 and 2 in the league in shorthanded goals.
Who’s hot
For the host Oilers Sam Huck has 7 assists in his last 3 games.
For the Bandits Hudson Malinoski in his last 4 games has 10 points.
Puck drop is at 7 PM tonight. Broadcast will be available on HockeyTV Peter Loubardias and Mark Frank will be on the call.
Get your tickets at https://tickets.okotoksoilers.ca/
By: Travis Neil https://twitter.com/TravisNeil7