The pre-season is here for the Okotoks Oilers as they open up their exhibition tournament Thursday night against the Calgary Mustangs.

Expectations are already high for the green and gold and with veterans fighting for more ice time and rookies looking to crack the roster there will be plenty to play for in games that don't have any value points wise.

Veteran defenceman Jordan Davies will suit up for his final junior hockey season and says he's been waiting for game action since the Oilers lost out in the second round of the playoffs to the Camrose Kodiaks.

"Just looking forward to getting the season started but it's good for the guys that might be a little rusty but I'm looking forward to it and getting the season started."

Davies will be one of the veterans in the line-up for Okotoks against the Mustangs and the odds are he'll be working with those that may not have the most junior experience on the ice at times and says he'll be ready to help out in any way he can.

"I just have to go out there and kind of let them know what they need to do, help them out if they need it and just lead by example on and off the ice."

After a hard week and a half of training camp Davies says he's ready to face an opponent that doesn't share the same jersey as he does.

"You got to just play your game and play like you would a regular season game, we're excited to get started and it should be a great year and we should do some great things."

Puckdrop is 6:30 p.m. at Pason Centennial Arena.

The Mustangs fell to the Drumheller Dragons Wednesday afternoon to kick off the tournament 5-2.

Prior to the Mustangs & Oilers will be the Dragons and Calgary Canucks doing battle at 3:15 p.m.

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