OKOTOKS, AB (November 5, 2022) — Bolstered by a three-goal performance by Brett Huxley (Calgary, AB), the Okotoks Oilers emerged victorious by a 5–3 score over the Spruce Grove Saints on Saturday night.
Connor Gourley (Calgary, AB) and Rylan Brown (Sherwood Park, AB) also scored in the win. The Oilers improved to 12–5–3 with the victory; the Saints fell to 13–5–1 but maintained their position atop the AJHL North Division standings.
QUICK HITS: The Oilers get a hat trick performance from Brett Huxley, battling back from a 3-2 deficit to beat Spruce Grove 5-3 at home! #AJHL pic.twitter.com/zfRFlpajjW
— Okotoks Oilers (@OkotoksOilers) November 6, 2022
OILERS POSTGAME: @primetimeklein talks to hat trick scorer Brett Huxley and assistant coach @ReidHnatowich about tonight's big 5-3 home win over Spruce Grove! #AJHL pic.twitter.com/RIokI8d6dz
— Okotoks Oilers (@OkotoksOilers) November 6, 2022
Huxley got the party started just two minutes into the first period on Saturday, beating Saints starter Jameson Kaine from long distance to make it 1–0 Oilers. Ethan Rowland (Calgary, AB) picked up his first point as an Oiler with the lone assist on the goal.
Saints forward Ewan McPherson answered right back to make it 1–1 just 36 seconds later, but the Oilers wasted little time in restoring their one-goal lead. This time, Gourley took a feed from Conyr Hellyer (Okotoks, AB) in tight and quickly deposited the puck past Kaine to put the home side up 2–1.
Morgan Brady and Ethan Leyer scored back-to-back goals for the Saints to close out the first period, but Oilers goaltender Parker Sawka (Cochrane, AB) successfully shut the door the rest of the way. Sawka stopped 23 of 26 shots on Saturday, including all 15 he faced in the final 40 minutes, and notably helped the Oilers kill off an extended 5-on-3 disadvantage in the second period.
Huxley added two more goals in the middle frame to complete his hat trick and give the Oilers a 4–3 lead. His third goal of the evening, which came off the rebound of a long-range Brown shot, served as the game-winner and cemented his selection as the game’s first star.
Brown added his first goal as an Oiler just 41 seconds into the third period to give the home side some much-needed insurance. Sawka locked things down the rest of the way and the Oilers picked up the win to successfully extend their point streak to 10 games.
The Oilers last lost in regulation time way back on October 8, when they dropped a 4–1 decision at home against the Brooks Bandits. Coincidentally, Brooks (19–1–2) is the only team in the entire AJHL currently with more points than the Oilers.
While they’ll have to wait until January 14 to face Brooks again, the Oilers will return to action this upcoming Tuesday when they host the Blackfalds Bulldogs (12–6–1) at Okotoks Centennial Arena.
Recap: Mike Gould
Photo: Chad Goddard