The early returns have been more than positive for Okotoks U18 AAA hockey.
The Rocky Mountain Raiders skated to a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Calgary Fire Red in their home and season opener on Oct. 5 with the Okotoks Bow Mark Oilers off to a 3-1 start in the Alberta Elite Hockey League.
On Saturday, the Raiders scored three first period goals over a six-minute span with Ella Simard, Phoenix Big Snake and Beth Burton lighting the lamp.
Rocky Mountain then held off a late surge from the Fire to take the 3-2 result, backstopped by a 23-save effort from Gabriella Meger.
On Sunday, the Okotoks-based Raiders were downed 4-2 in Calgary by the Fire Black team in Alberta Female Hockey League action.
In the AEHL ranks, the Bow Mark Oilers have started strong with wins in three of four games.
Last weekend at the AEHL Showcase in Edmonton, the Oilers skated to a 5-2 win over the Edmonton Jr. Oilers Orange. Eric Marks scored twice with captain Tate Hanson, Adam Halat and Alex Schaub finding the back of the net and netminder Steele Bass in rhythm with a 27-save effort.
Okotoks was on the other end of the 5-2 scoreline the following night in their first loss of the season to the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers. Halat and Carson Meyer scored for the Oil.
Halat, a 2009-born forward, is tied for the league lead with 10 points (five goals, five assists) in four games.
Okotoks has a home-heavy slate for much of the month with home dates on Oct. 12, 13, 19 and 26. Rocky Mountain is on the road until the final weekend of the month.
For more information, go to ooaaoilerhockey.ca.
