Eighteen seconds to a U18 AA league championship.
The Okotoks U18 AA Oilers erased a pair of one-goal deficits and clinched the best-of-three South Central Alberta Hockey League championship 18 seconds into overtime with Markus Vassell notching the winner in the 3-2 road triumph over the West Central Tigers on March 16.
“Eighteen seconds into OT, we made the same play we’ve made a lot, get the puck low and put it in the slot,” said U18 AA Oilers head coach Rob Hale. “And Markus Vassell made a hell of a shot to win it.”
The finalists had history from the regular season with West Central snapping Okotoks’ undefeated start to the campaign in December. Okotoks finished with the SCAHL’s best record.
“We knew they were a good team, who played tough and had good goaltending,” Hale said. “We knew how important it was to get to them early and I thought we did that on Friday (in Game 1).
“And then (in Game 2), we knew it was going to be a real battle in unfriendly territory and it was, but I tell you what, I couldn’t be more proud of these kids, they showed the character they’ve shown all year.”
In the decisive match, Okotoks was down 1-0 following a first period spent largely on the penalty kill and clawed its way back into the contest.
Aidan Knibbs scored in the middle frame, Vance Amyotte notched the equalizer on the man advantage in the third period with Vassell then ending proceedings quickly in overtime.
McCallum Strachan made 27 saves for the victory.
Okotoks took Game 1 of the series 5-0 with Josh McCallum posting a 37-save shutout, Isaac Cayetano scoring twice and Amyotte and Ethan Miller adding a goal and an assist.
The weekend prior, Okotoks went a perfect 5-0 in the divisional playoff to sweep its way to the South Division banner.
“We’ve played seven games in 10 days and knew that everybody was going to have to play, we rolled three lines and six D,” Hale said. “We’ve had different players in and out of the lineup with injuries and suspensions. When that’s happened the next person in has stepped in and done the job. Both goalies played great the entire way through sharing the load.”
Okotoks will get a much-needed break this weekend with the Hockey Alberta U18 AA Provincial Championships not taking place until March 28-31 in Whitecourt.
“We’ve been trying to follow the (Okotoks) U15 AA path, Daron Dumanski, a good friend of mine said, ‘Just win seven games and you go to provincials.’” Hale said. “They’re up first and we need the break, no doubt, we’ve got some injuries and kids are tired.
“It will be tough, it will be competitive, but there’s no other group I’d rather be going with than this one.”
It’s a group with championship pedigree.
Several members of the team were part of the Okotoks U16 AA championship team in 2022.
“It’s the character all the way through,” Hale added. “The ‘06s, kids that are playing their last year of minor hockey, the leadership that group has shown all the way from net to defence to forward, we’ve got key ‘06s in every position.
“And the rest of the team has just bought in, accepting what role they play on the team and then doing everything they can to contribute to the success and they’ve done it all year.”
