The Okotoks Oilers were able to pick up their first win of the 2024-2025 BCHL regular season on Saturday night, with an 8-5 beating on the Cranbrook Bucks.
Their first time facing off in a regular season game came on Friday with the Bucks hosting the Oilers at Western Financial Place, the same arena the former Kootenay Ice of the WHL used to play in.
Both games saw comebacks with Friday's tilt having the Oilers go up 2-0 but then fall 3-2 at the end of regulation. Jacob Goudreau scored first, just 52 seconds into the game to give himself two goals in two games. Assistant captain Brett Wilson followed it up with a goal of his own just over three minutes later. Spencer Rheaume, Ethan Dekay, and Bowen Burke got credit with the helpers on the two goals.
Cranbrook found the back of the net in each period to take the win. Matthew Gilmore, Blake Cotton, and Rasmus Svartström were the goal scores for the Bucks. Okotoks heavily outshot the Bucks 43-34, but couldn't get the win.
On Saturday it was an explosion of goals from the Green and Gold with them finding the twine eight times, with seven of the goal scorers getting their first of the year. The Bucks ended the first period with a 3-0 lead but that didn't deteriorate the Oilers as they scored three goals of their own in the third and then put the puck past Miles Roberts (Bucks netminder) five times in the third period.
Goudreau was the first Oiler to get on the board again, extending his goal streak to three games. Coy Pighin, Jamie Hikida, Rheamue, Myles Gauld, Brayden Duy, Hunter Sawka, and captain Jackson Rowland all got their first goals of the season. Rowland and Hikida finished with three points on the night.
The Green and Gold will be on the road this weekend when they face captain Conyr Hellyer and the Penticton Vees on Friday night. On Saturday they will be in Salmon Arm to play against the Silverbacks for a 6:00 p.m. tilt.