Brooks, Alberta – The Brooks Bandits visit the Okotoks Oilers on Tuesday, January 13th for an interdivisional clash at Viking Rentals Centre.
Puck drop is 7:00 MT, which is the final game for the Bandits before the BCHL All-Star weekend.
The game marks the Bandits’ first trip to Okotoks during the 2025/26 regular season and their first meeting with the Oilers since Brooks’ home opener. This is also the first of six meetings between the Bandits and Oilers between now and the end of the regular season.
The Bandits are coming off a split weekend, earning a 5-3 win over Blackfalds on Friday before falling 4-2 to Spruce Grove on Saturday.
“We got humbled pretty good,” said Assistant Coach Cole McCaig following the loss to the Saints. “We picked it up in the third [period] but ultimately, our penalty kill wasn’t where it needed to be.”
“You just can’t take nights off,” he added. “You look at our schedule and we play a lot at home this month. We really need to take advantage of our home games.”
The Bandits have an away record of 10-5 this season, but haven’t played on the road since December 13th in Cranbrook.
“To be honest, I am excited that we’re playing Okotoks; they’re a gritty team and they play with a lot of sandpaper,” McCaig said. “We’re going to really have to elevate our physicality and our grit factor.”
The Bandits have dropped two of their three games since returning from the Christmas break, though the coaching staff remains confident the issues are correctable.
“It is just getting back to the small details of the game and our effort away from the puck,” McCaig assured. “We really preach playing on your toes, playing fast and being aggressive in the [defensive] zone.”
The Oilers currently sit last in the Interior East Division, though they are only two games under .500 with a 13-15-1-1 record. The Interior East leads all BCHL divisions with 91 combined wins, ahead of Coastal West’s 79.
Okotoks is led offensively by Brett Wilson, who has 29 points including 10 goals in 30 games this season. Michael Mikan ranks second on the team with 28 points.
The Bandits earned a 4-2 victory over the Oilers on September 20th earlier this season. Forward Jack Good was named first star, while goaltender Zach Zahara stopped 27 shots in the win.
Fans can tune into the game on New Country 105.7 FM or FloHockey. Nathan Crosby and Ken Fleury will have the call.
