OKOTOKS, AB (September 24, 2021) ““ The Okotoks Oilers (2-1) got a two-goal outburst from rookie forward Conyr Hellyer (Okotoks, AB), rebounding from a 3-1 deficit to beat the visiting Canmore Eagles 7-4 in their home opener on Friday night.
The Oilers converted on the power play four times for a 4-for-6 efficiency rate, outshooting Canmore 47-24 in the game. Veteran goaltender Parker Sawka (Cochrane, AB) made 20 saves on 24 shots for the win.
A Bowden Singleton (Calgary, AB) shorthanded goal at 9:09 was the only marker of a first period in which the Oilers outshot their opposition 20-5. In the second, though, the Eagles got three goals from Carter Myrol, Lane Paddison, and Kayden Smith to take a commanding lead 10:52 in. But the Oilers narrowed the deficit with a power play rebound goal for Sam Huck (Calgary, AB), his first in the AJHL, before Ethan Schaeffer notched a power play goal for Canmore to reclaim a two-goal lead for the visitors at 15:22.
In the third, the Oilers struck early on Hellyer”™s first on a net front scramble just 37 seconds in. Just over a minute later, Rieger Lorenz (Calgary, AB) sniped one from the left circle to tie the game, and less than three minutes after that, Hellyer struck on a power play rebound for the eventual game-winner.
Dean Spak (Calgary, AB) scored off the rush at 17:26 for some insurance, and Lorenz ended the night with an empty netter with 40 seconds left.
The Oilers finish their weekend homestand against the Drumheller Dragons on Saturday night at 7 PM. Tickets are available online at tickets.okotoksoilers.ca.