The Okotoks Oilers have bolstered their forward ranks with a trade with their arch rival.
Okotoks acquired 2006-born forward Brock Souch from the Brooks Bandits on Nov. 1 for future considerations, the BCHL team announced on Friday.
“It will help us out with the offensive part of it and making plays,” said Oilers head coach and GM Tyler Deis on Friday. “He’s a young guy that’s been playing in the league for a while.
“He wanted to be put in a situation where he’s being utilized a little bit more and with us acquiring him where he’s going to get that opportunity.”
Playmaking, speed and competitiveness are among the strengths the 2006-born forward brings to the ice, the coach added.
The Edmonton native had two points in eight games this season with Brooks after a 62-point campaign last season with the Bandits and Sherwood Park Crusaders.
The 5-foot-9, 170-pound winger is a St. Cloud University commit.
Deis said the new acquisition will likely play on the left side, adding there’s a number of different lines he could fit on in Okotoks.
“With our team, I feel like we have 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D,” he said. “The points are pretty evenly matched across all four lines. It’s just finding that right chemistry and seeing who he’s going to play with.”
The Oilers (5-8) return to home ice on Saturday, Nov. 2 for its first match up of the season with the Sherwood Park Crusaders. Puck drop is 7 p.m. at Viking Rentals Centre.
Souch is not yet in Okotoks and is a possibility for tomorrow’s game.
“Every game is a tight game,” said Deis of the season thus far. “We’ve played Brooks and Penticton twice each and those are probably the top teams. Every other game you go into it’s competitive, it’s good hockey and that’s one of the reasons why we did what we did.
“It’s good hockey and on any night, any team can win.”
For more information, go to okotoksoilers.com.
