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Three Oilers to play hockey in front of friends and family

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Ethan Macintyre from Blackie, Hudson Hall and Daxton Budd from High River are players on the Okotoks Bow Mark Oilers Midget AAA hockey team and they are coming back to play in front of their hometown on Dec. 14 at 5:30 p.m.

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The Oilers play regular season games at the Pason Arenas in Okotoks when they are at home, but the team decided to play one of their games this year (and possibly in the future) at the Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex.

The regular season game will be against the Leduc Chrysler Oil Kings.

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The Oilers play in the Alberta Midget Hockey League (AAA). This is one of the best leagues in the world at the midget level and it is a good opportunity for hockey fans to come check out some great hockey. The players are encourage minor hockey players to come out to the game and afterwards are open to meeting them and answering any hockey questions.

The Oilers are having their best season and are currently in second place in the South Division with a 12-4-1 record. Leduc is 4-7-6.

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All three players from the area are forwards and are helping their team win and are happy with the way the team is playing right now.

“We just came off a seven game win streak, but came up a little short against St. Albert this past weekend,” said Budd.

“I think we have been playing really well and keeping to our structure and buying in. We just need to keep going strong for the next half of the season.”

This has been stressed by the coaches, the players said, as Okotoks has had some strong early season results in the past, but diminished towards the end of the season. The Oilers have never made the playoffs since they came into the league in 2017.

“The strengths of our team is probably our speed and size,” he said.

“We are mostly a 17-year-old team and we are fast and we are big and I think that’s our greatest strength.”

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No team is perfect and there is always room for improvement.

“We need to start our games a little quicker and stronger,” said Macintyre.

“Get the pucks deep and work the corners.”

All three played minor hockey in High River and they are thrilled to be able to play a big game in front of friends and family.

“I think it’s really cool,” said Budd.

“I haven’t played in High River in about five years. It was always really fun, so I’m really happy I’ll be back and able to play.”

“A home crowd atmosphere is great and I know High River likes its hockey so it should be backed and exciting,” said Hall.

When asked about how Leduc plays, the boys all said they treat every game the season and will need to come out and work hard and play their best hockey.

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All three hope to be involved in hockey in the future. This is Budd and Hall’s final season with the team and Macintyre could play one more year, as he is only 16-years-old.

Hall hopes to play junior hockey Alberta or Saskatchewan.

“If I’m lucky, it would be nice to get a scholarship in the NCAA and play somewhere in the States,” he said.

Scouts fill the arenas at these midget AAA games and the boys have all been approached about the possibility of joining a certain teams once they are done midget, but nothing is determined yet and the players can impress scouts, especially with the Mac’s Midget AAA Tournament and playoffs coming up.

Macintyre hopes to play one more year with the Oilers and play junior like Hall, but he hopes to study Sports Medicine at a college somewhere in the States while playing hockey.

Budd also wants to play Junior A in BC or Alberta.

“Education is the most important to me, but if I could also play hockey that would be a great bonus,” he said.

Before their game on Dec. 14, the Oilers are planning to be at Sobeys from noon to 3 p.m. where they will help load vehicles and bag groceries and will encourage those shopping to donate to the Kettle Campaign that is being done by the Foothills Salvation Army.

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