The Blackfalds Bulldogs opened their 2026-27 BCHL preseason with a 5-2 loss to the Okotoks Oilers on Tuesday night at Viking Rentals Centre. It was the Bulldogs’ first exhibition game of the year, and the lineup reflected that early stage of camp: only two returning players dressed for Blackfalds. In contrast, Okotoks appeared to ice a veteran-heavy group—more than half the roster looked like holdovers from last season, including a returning starter in net. The choice seemed unusual for a preseason contest and left some observers wondering if the Oilers were simply short on available bodies. Despite the final score, the Bulldogs generated scoring chances at various points. Still, the overall performance looked understandably ragged. With so few familiar faces and a group still learning to play together, Blackfalds struggled with consistency, committing a number of giveaways and incomplete passes that handed momentum back to the home side
Horrible turnover by the Bulldogs got the Oilers up 1-0 at 8:04 of the first period when Chaska, Minnesota native Tristin Wassengeso scored. The helpers on the goal went to Returnee Henry Sampair who also hails from Minnesota and St. Albert, Alberta native Ben Deacon who split last season between the Devon Xtreme of the AJHl and the Okotoks Oilers.
Bulldogs got a 4 minute Power Play for a brutal kneeing call. Instead of scoring a Power Play marker (or two) they gave up a shorthanded goal. Veteran and Calgary native Jeff Niehaus made it 2-0 for the Oilers at 10:27 of the first period. The assist on the goal went to another veteran Grady Gustafson.
Shots on goal in the first period were 13-11 for the Bulldogs
The Bulldogs changed goalies at the half way mark of the game. Because in exhibion preseason games you tend to do that and not play your veteran starter through a whole preseason game. Just saying.
California native and junior journeyman Tyler Russel makes it 3-0 for the Oilers at 18:06 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to Williams Lake, BC native Grady Gustafson and Rogers, Minnesota Bennet Arro who played last season with the Ironwood Lumberjacks of the SIJHL.
4-0 Oilers at 18:43 of the second period the goal went to Laval, Quebec native Domenico Clarizio. The assist on the goal went to Andover, Minnesota native Roger Mourad.
Shots on goal in the second period were 14-4 for Okotoks
Yet another give away goal handed to the Oilers at 6:01 of the third period to make it a 5-0 game for the Oilers. Tristin Wassengeso got his second goal of the night. The assist on the goal went to Jeff Niehaus.
The Bulldogs finally got on the board at 12:20 of the third period when Swedish Import Tim-Kristian Lukkarinen tipped in a shot from Minnesota native Gavin Karl. The other assist on the goal went to Hampus Vandeberg,
Kitchener, Ontario native Josh Kaufman then scores to make it 5-2 at 13:31 of the third period. The assist on the goal went to Radoslav Dimitrov. Kaufman played last season with the Navan Grads of the CCHL where he scored almost a point a game.
Shots on goal in the third period were 10-6 for the Bulldogs. The Oilers outshot the Bulldogs 31-27 in the game.
For the Oilers Returning goalie Justin Giguere stopped 25 of the 27 shots he faced for the win for the Oilers. I think the BCHL website has the stats mixed up for the goalies as I could of sworn they switched at halfway mark. Since there does not seem to be accurate stats kept I will just say the goalies for Blackfalds were Cooper Schmidt and Calgary native Ben Hakes.
Attendance in Okotoks was 384
Bulldogs next game is Wednesday September 9th in Blackfalds against a team from Korea of College kids.
The Blackfalds Bulldogs and Surrey Eagles completed a trade on Tuesday, September 8, with the Bulldogs sending the playing rights of 2007-born forward Tommy Coccaro to Surrey in exchange for 2006-born defenseman Evan Stastny. Stastny, a 6-foot-4 right-shot blueliner from Glen Ellyn, Illinois, is a Lake Superior State University commit who has played 87 BCHL games over the past two seasons, recording 12 points (all assists). He spent the majority of 2024-25 and the start of 2025-26 with the Victoria Grizzlies before joining Blackfalds mid-season last year, where he contributed five assists in 25 regular-season games and one more in the playoffs. Coccaro, a 5-foot-8 right-shot forward from Fairfield, Connecticut, is coming off a solid rookie BCHL campaign with the Sherwood Park Crusaders in which he put up 8 goals and 7 assists for 15 points in 43 games, plus two assists in seven playoff contests.
Danny Hussa who was trying out for the Blainville Armada in the QMJHL, (rumored) suiting up for the Fargo Force of the USHL tonight. Goalie Carson Mertz Appears to of made the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL also.
