Bowmark Oilers open second half of season Saturday

The Okotoks Bowmark Oilers host the Lethbridge Hurricanes this Saturday in Alberta Elite U18 Hockey League action.

Coach Chris Beston says things have gone pretty well so far.

"It's been a decent season, we have our ups and downs, we'll have really good games, really bad, our league's very tight this year so you get a good weekend where you get four points you can get all the way up to third, you lose four points, and you can be out of a playoff spot."

He says he's got a good line-up of players.

"Captain Brandon de Haas who's a great player, a veteran, we rely on him heavily, there's Jaden Rusznak is a good solid forward, he leads our team in points, everybody on our team has their own role that contributes to our success," he says. 

Ryan Williamson got the team off to a good start at the recent Circle K Classic with a pair of goals in the Oilers opening game.

"Ryans a veteran on our team, I mean he's a good player who has lots of speed, you know we rely on him, he's got a tonne of potential, that whole line was our best line that first game with Carter Kelly and Phoeniz Flett," Beston says.

Goal Carter Esler has also been a standout.

"Carter is a great kid with unbelievable potential. We need him to win hockey games most nights, so he's got to be on his game, and he always is, he's always prepared, he's always focused, he's a great kid to have on your hockey team.

He says being named to the youth Olympics Team Canada is a real feather in Esler's cap and is a reward for all the work he's put in.

The Saturday game goes at 6:15 at the Centennial Green Arena.