Skip to content

Oil Kings suffer narrow losses to Satellites

After back-to-back losses to the Tofield Satellites this past weekend, the Big Valley Oil Kings will look for some “redemption”
50761stettleroilkings010715
Ben Starbuck (20) of the Big Valley Oil Kings heads for the net during a home game against the Tofield Satellites on Saturday

After back-to-back losses to the Tofield Satellites this past weekend, the Big Valley Oil Kings will look for some “redemption” next time around, according to general manager Dustin Edwards.

The Oil Kings hosted the league-leading Satellites on Saturday, Jan. 3, losing 2-1. The teams faced off again in Big Valley the following day, with Tofield winning 6-4.

Edwards said the Kings couldn’t overcome the Satellites’ strengths, including their defense during penalty kills and their power play performance.

“Their specialties really outdid ours,” he said. “I didn’t think they were that strong . . . We had a pretty full roster this weekend.”

Satellites 2 Oil Kings 1

On Saturday’s game, both teams were held scoreless through the first period. Big Valley was first to score in the second period with a single goal by Luke Boyer. Tofield turned the tables near the midpoint of the third period with two consecutive goals, the second a power play goal, and Big Valley was unable to recover, losing 2-1.

Satellites 6 Oil Kings 4

In Sunday’s game, Big Valley was again first to score, as Luke Boyer and Wyat Haustein each scored within the first 10 minutes. A goal by Tofield brought the score to 2-1 at the close of period one.

Tofield came out in full force in the second period, scoring three consecutive goals and shutting out Big Valley.

The Satellites scored again to open period three, giving them a commanding 5-2 lead, but the Oil Kings followed that up with a goal of their own, courtesy of Matt Kinnunen.

Pat Turville scored for Big Valley in the final minute, bringing them within spitting distance, but ultimately they could not bridge the gap. An empty-net goal for Tofield with eight seconds on the clock gave the visiting team a 6-4 victory.

“We were all over (the goalie) and we just couldn’t get that last goal to tie her up,” said Edwards.

The two losses give Big Valley a 3-4-0-2 record so far this season, putting them fourth out of five teams in the Battle River Hockey League.

The Oil Kings will host the Daysland Northstars on Friday, Jan. 9, followed by an away game against Tofield on Saturday, Jan. 10.

Edwards also noted that Saturday will mark the signing deadline for senior hockey teams, adding that the team is actively working to “recruit and sign a top-six forward by the weekend.”