OLDS — The Olds Grizzlys held off a late charge by the Okotoks Oilers and advanced to the AJHL South Division final with a 4-3 win Thursday before 761 fans at the Sports Complex.
Following a scoreless opening period, the Grizzlys got power-play and short-handed goals from Brandon Clowes and a man-advantage marker from Mitch Owsley to take a 3-0 lead into the final frame.
The visiting Oilers pulled to within one in the first seven minutes of the third period with an even-strength goal from Tyler Krause and a power-play tally courtesy of Scott Bolland.
But Dylan Hubbs restored the Grizzlys’ two-goal margin at 12:29 and the Oilers’ Derek Bacon closed out the scoring at 18:52.
The Grizzlys, who won the best-of-seven semifinal 4-2 and now meet the Brooks Bandits for the South title, got a 26-save effort from Brandon Thiessen. Michael Tadjdeh stopped 29 shots for Okotoks.