U16 Tier 1 Okotoks Oilers take home the championship

The Okotoks Oilers U16 Tier 1 team finished off their five-game series with Airdrie for the league championship in style, winning game five 4-2 after being down in the game twice.

Darcy Williams head coach of the Oilers stated the final game was just like how the whole series played out, a close hockey game.

"I thought the boys started well, it had some good energy going right from the beginning, it was back-and-forth. With that being said, I felt we were in control," Williams said.

"Airdrie is a strong team, they had their chances but our goaltending and defence stood up when it needed to. Like most of the games against Airdrie all year, they scored first. But, the boys didn't get down because they had been there before. They knew that one goal doesn't make a game, they knew they had to score a couple to win this one. They stuck with it, and we tied it up before the first was over."

Okotoks would be down by a goal again in the second period but would answer with a goal of their own 51 seconds left in the frame. The Oilers would then score the game winner with just half the period left in the third and then cement the win with an empty net goal to claim the championship.

"We ended up having to kill a four-minute double minor penalty late in the third, up one. The boys came through, it was great to see. Everyone bought in and said I'm going to go out there and kill this penalty," he said.

"Right at the end of it, we were fortunate enough to draw a penalty of our own. That put us on the powerplay for the last two minutes of the game. The boys played smart, and they ended up getting an opportunity when they pulled their goalie to score the empty netter that sealed it for us. Then the celebration was on."

When asked about some of Williams favourite memories during the season, he was quick to point out a tournament in Los Angelas that saw the team meet up with some of the L.A. Kings from the NHL.

Okotoks Oilers U16 Tier 1 celebrate after winning the league championship. (Credit: Paige Williams Slap Shots Photography)

"We went to Los Angelas to play a tournament there because we couldn't find any U16 tournaments here in Alberta or Western Canada. We were fortunate enough to go to Los Angelas for about six to seven days. Where the tournament was being held was actually at the Los Angelas Kings practice facility. Not only were the Kings practicing there but same with their farm team the Ontario Reign," Williams said.

"We were basically walking through hallways with NHL and AHL players walking the other way, because there is three arenas there and there is so many dressing rooms."

For a cherry on top, the team was able to go watch the L.A. Kings play the Columbus Blue Jackets at Staples Center and even got to stand at the tunnel watching the Kings hit the ice.

Williams explained that once they got the eventual game winning goal, the bench was jumping up with pure joy. Williams had to bring them in and remind them that the game wasn't over. On the final penalty kill, the team rallied together and were able to clear their own zone a total of nine times, not giving Airdrie the time or space to tie the game up.

Williams gave credit to Dave Hayes, head coach of the U18 AA Okotoks Raiders for helping spot potential fixes to their penalty kill and it paid dividends for his team. Hayes and Williams shared their insight with each other to help both their squads.

With only four teams in the league and Cochrane potentially leaving after being awarded an AA team the Oilers might have just ended as forever champions.

With the Oilers now being able to call themselves champions, Williams made sure to have the families on the ice with the team after the victory to show their support for everyone involved.