BROOKS, AB (October 30, 2021) ““ Despite opening the scoring, the Okotoks Oilers (8-8-1) dropped an 8-3 decision to the host Brooks Bandits on Saturday night, completing a weekend sweep by the team”™s toughest divisional rival.
The Oilers were outshot 43-16 in the game, after dressing a lineup with eight scratched regulars, two affiliate players, and only 17 total players in the game.
A back and forth first was highlighted by Tucker McRae (Calgary, AB) tapping a puck home from the net front after a setup from the end wall by Dean Spak (Calgary, AB). But Brooks responded less than 4 minutes later when Brendan Mairs banked a puck in past starter Austin Zavoda (Hershey, PA).
Brooks then dominated the second with four goals, the first two coming from Ryan McAllister on the power play 56 seconds in, and Brendan Kennette on the following shift to make it 3-1. Aiden Fink converted another Brooks power play at 9:04, but Ty Yoder (Tofield, AB) scored at 14:10 to cut the deficit to 2, converting on a net front scramble.
It was as close as the Oilers would get from then on, though, as Devin Phillips scored another power play goal for Brooks at 18:12, then the Bandits opened the third with goals on back to back shifts from TJ Hughes and Hunter Wallace to make it 7-2. Nicholas DeGraves scored the final marker for the home side at 10:55, before Yoder notched his second of the game on a turnaround wrist shot from the high slot at 12:45.
Okotoks now sits 5 points behind Drumheller and Camrose for second place in the AJHL South, with an extra game played over both of those teams.
The Oilers return home Tuesday night to host the Bonnyville Pontiacs at 7:00 PM. Tickets are available online at tickets.okotoksoilers.ca.