A rough start for the Okotoks Oilers as they came out on the wrong side of a 9 to 2 score in game one of the best of seven series playoff southern finals against the Brooks Bandits in the AJHL.

Despite never winning against Brooks during the regular season, the Oilers hit the ice confidently, but seemed to let the Bandits get into their heads.

The first period saw the Bandits score two goals, answered by one from Jordie Lawson at the start of the second.

After that, the Bandits scored four more goals. 

Oilers defenseman Carson Beers says they can't keep letting their frustrations get the better of them.

"I think we just kept getting frustrated with ourselves, more then trying to play the game, we were just in our own heads." Beers adds "That's the beauty of a seven game series, is you get another game tomorrow."

The Bandits ended the regular season 28 points ahead of the Oilers, and Beers says they are a hard team to beat.

"There a good defensive team, you can tell there D-Core is strong. I think we just have to be faster in the neutral zone, and try to get away from all of their picks and bolts." Beers says "It's kind of like playing Camrose, we figured it out later on."

The Oilers play game 2 tonight in Brooks at 7 P.M.

You can catch the live broadcast on the Eagle 100.9, the pre-game will start at 6:45 with Gino De Paoli.