The Green and Gold’s goalie is set to graduate to Guelph Gryphons.
Okotoks Oilers netminder Olivier Ciarlo has found his future destination in the sport after committing to the University of Guelph Gryphons next season.
“It’s great,” said Ciarlo, in an Oilers release. “I was very excited when I made my decision and when they were ready to go through the commitment. I was just ecstatic and just wanted my family to know.”
The 20-year-old from Laval, Que. joined the Oilers for the 2024-25 campaign after four seasons with the QMJHL’s Baie-Comeau Drakkar and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.
Ciarlo, an athletic shotstopper, has been a fixture on the last line of defence for the Oilers, suiting up in 40 games, with 19 wins and posting a .895 save percentage.
He’s logged 2,243 out of the 3,163 minutes goalies have played for Okotoks as part of a three-goalie system with rookies Simon Westling and Ben Vatis.
“This year was a tough year, I think, for a lot of reasons,” Ciarlo said. “But we stayed as a group, and we wanted to achieve things. I think I had a different role than what I’m used to; I was a leader this year. So, I try to bring this leadership to my everyday life and try to be more mature with everything.
“So, I think this is going to help me, going into university where I can be a little more mature with the studying, the school and the having to put them together. I think this year helped a lot.”
The Gryphons play in Ontario Athletics Conference in U SPORTS against the likes of Queen’s, Ottawa, McGill, Carleton, York, Wilfrid Laurier, Waterloo, Toronto and Brock.
Ciarlo and the Oilers are preparing for the final week of the BCHL regular season, looking to clinch the eighth and final seed in the Interior Conference.
Okotoks has a three-point lead on the Spruce Grove Saints with two games remaining. The Oilers’ home finale is March 29 at 7 p.m. versus the Brooks Bandits.
For more information, go to okotoksoilers.com.
You must be signed in to comment. Please sign in or register.