Oilers take season opener from Bandits, 4-2 in Okotoks
OKOTOKS, AB – Goals from three different rookies were the difference as the Okotoks Oilers (1-0) handed the Brooks Bandits (0-1) a loss in their season opener Friday night in Okotoks.
For the second straight year, the Oilers opened the season with a win over the Bandits, beating Brooks 4-2 at Pason Centennial Arena in front of 673 fans.
Brooks was led by rookie blueliner Luke Bast (Red Deer, AB), who scored both of its goals on slap shots from the point.
The Bandits capitalized on a five-on-three powerplay exactly eight minutes into the first period, as Bast blasted one past Oiler netminder Riley Morris. However, Okotoks responded with a powerplay goal of their own, as Nick Blakenburg was successful on a one-timer from the left circle, beating Bandit starter Mitch Benson (Windsor, ON).