Road Trip Photo Blog

As the Oil Kings continue their road trip, I plan on sharing some behind the scenes photos from the road.  Instead of sending endless tweets of pics, I will do a series of blogs. Here is the first, a gameday in Prince George.

Dressing Board courtesy of Therapist Brian Cheeseman

Rhett Rachinski waits for his turn at pregame skate.

Coaches Steve Hamilton and Jesse Pearson running practice.

Equipment Manager Rogan Dean sharpens Tristan Jarry's skates

Shot from the bench during morning skate.

Laurent Brossoit takes a breather.

Steve Hamilton filling in for Derek Laxdal this weekend addresses the team on ice one last time before the game.

GDB #55 @ Prince George

Oil Kings (54 36-12-2-4) vs Cougars (52 16-34-0-2)

The Kings continue their road trip tonight, opening up at two game set at the CN Centre in Prince George.  They are coming off a bizarre 9-5 win in Calgary on Wednesday night.  Both Tyler Maxwell and TJ Foster netted hat-tricks, while Tristan Sieban, Rhett Rachinski and Stephane Legault tallied a goal.  Martin Gernat was plus four with a pair of assists.  It was the third time in five meetings where the Oil Kings chased Calgary's starting netminder.  With the win Edmonton closed to within two points of Kamloops for top spot in the entire WHL.

Tonight they face the team with the least amount of points in the league this season, the Prince George Cougars.  The Cats haven't played since last weekend where they dropped a pair of home games to the Kelowna Rockets.  They have lost eight of their last nine games.  It does sound like they will have some good news this weekend though, as Alex Forsberg, Drew Owsley, Jarrett Fontaine and Caleb Belter could all return from injuries.

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

Season Series:  This is the second of three meetings between the clubs this year.  They meet again Saturday night as well.  Edmonton took the first matchup 5-0 at Rexall Place last month.  Laurent Brossoit earned his second shutout of the season making 26 saves.  The Kings peppered Cougar netminder Drew Owlsey with 50 shots.

Up Next: Like previously mentioned these teams square off again tomorrow night wrapping up their season series.  The Oil Kings then continue their road trip in Kamloops Tuesday.  The Cougars welcome the Red Deer Rebels on Wednesday.

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

Leaders:

Goals- EDM- Michael St. Croix (34)
PG- Spencer Asuchak (14)

Points- EDM- St. Croix (84)
PG- Troy Bourke (35)

Wins- EDM- Laurent Brossoit (31)
PG- Drew Owsley (15)

PIMS- EDM- Keegan Lowe (108)
PG- Campbell Elynuik (122)

Drafted:

EDM- Mark Pysyk-Buffalo Sabres (1st Round, 2010), Kristians Pelss- Edmonton Oilers (7th, 2010), Keegan Lowe- Carolina Hurricanes (3rd, 2011), Travis Ewanyk- Oilers (3rd, 2011), Michael St. Croix- New York Rangers (4th, 2011), Martin Gernat- Oilers (5th, 2011), Laurent Brossoit- Calgary Flames (6th, 2011)

PG-  Ricard Blidstrand- Philadelphia Flyers (7th, 2010).

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

Injury Report:
EDM: #21, Travis Ewanyk, Upper body, week to week
#22, Ryan Dech, Lower body, 1 month
#27 Curtis Lazar, Lower Body, TBD

PG: #2, Dan Gibb, Upper body, 1-2 weeks
#4, Linden Springer, Lower body, day to day
#6, Jesse Forsberg, Upper body, day to day
#17, Caleb Belter, Upper body, day to day
#21, Shane Pilling, Upper body, day to day
#27, Alex Forsberg, Lower body, day to day
#29, Reid Jackson, Illness day to day
#30, Drew Owsley, Lower body, day to day
#32, Jarret Fontaine, Upper body, week to wee

Notes: Oil Kings forward Michael St. Croix is 5th in league scoring (84), Dylan Wruck is 12th (69). Defenceman Martin Gernat is tied in 8th in rookie scoring (40) and he tied in 9th in scoring amongst defencemen. He also leads the league at +36.  Oil Kings netminder Laurent Brossoit is 4th in GAA (2.48), and is 3rd in wins (31).  Krisitans Pelss will serve the 3rd game of a three game suspension tonight. For Prince George, Alex Forsberg is 14th in rookie scoring (29).  The Oil Kings have scored a league high 235 goals, the Cougars a league low 114.  This is the second of three meetings between the two clubs this year. Pregame show at 7:45, the puck drops at 8:00 MT on the Team 1260.

GDB #54 @ Calgary

Oil Kings (53 35-12-2-4) vs Hitmen (54 32-19-2-1)

The Kings kick off their season long six game road trip tonight against one of the hotter teams in the WHL, the Calgary Hitmen.  Edmonton is looking to extend thier winning streak to three games after downing Kooetnay 3-1 at Rexall Place on Tuesday afternoon.  The Kings received a goal and assist from both Michael St.Croix and Griffin Reinhart.  Dylan Wruck added a pair of assists and shares the team lead with St. Croix at 48.  St. Croix was plus one and assumes the league lead in that department at plus 34.

Calgary is coming off a loss last night in Medicine Hat 5-3.  The Hitmen have shot up the standings in the new year, going 15-3 in their last 18 contests.  They entered the third period tied at three with the Tigers, but allowed a pair of goals, including Emerson Etem's league leading 49th which sealed the deal.

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

Season Series:  This is the fifth of six matchups this season and the second at the Saddledome.  The Oil Kings took the first three matchups all in Edmonton by a combined score of 14-4.  Calgary rebounded to take the last meeting of the clubs 4-3 in Calgary in January.  The teams meet once more in Cowtown on February 24th.

Up Next: The Oil Kings hit the road after the game heading towards Prince George where they open up a two game set with the Cougars. Edmonton also visits Kamloops, Kelowna, and Vancouver on this swing through the BC division.  This is the first game of a three game homestand for the Hitmen.  They host the Warriors on Friday before facing the Ice on Sunday.

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

Leaders:

Goals- EDM- Michael St. Croix (34)
CAL- Jimmy Bubnick (24)

Points- EDM- St. Croix (82)
CAL- Cody Sylvester (56)

Wins- EDM- Laurent Brossoit (30)
CAL- Chris Driedger, Brandon Glover (16)

PIMS- EDM- Mitch Moroz (104)
CAL- Jaynen Rissling (101)

Drafted:

EDM- Mark Pysyk-Buffalo Sabres (1st Round, 2010), Kristians Pelss- Edmonton Oilers (7th, 2010), Keegan Lowe- Carolina Hurricanes (3rd, 2011), Travis Ewanyk- Oilers (3rd, 2011), Michael St. Croix- New York Rangers (4th, 2011), Martin Gernat- Oilers (5th, 2011), Laurent Brossoit- Calgary Flames (6th, 2011)

CAL- Jimmy Bubnick- Atlanta Thrashers (6th, 2009, Free Agent), Brooks Macek- Detroit Red Wings (6th, 2010), Victor Rask- Hurricanes (2nd, 2011), Alex Roach signed free agent (Los Angeles Kings).

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

Injury Report:
EDM: #21, Travis Ewanyk, Upper body, week to week
#22, Ryan Dech, Lower body, 1 month
#27 Curtis Lazar, Lower Body, TBD

CAL: #9, Jaynen Rissling, Lower body, 2 weeks
#11, Brooks Macek, Lower body, day to day

Notes: Oil Kings forward Michael St. Croix is 5th in league scoring (82), Dylan Wruck is tied in 12th (66). Defenceman Martin Gernat is 9th in rookie scoring (38) and he tied in 12th in scoring amongst defencemen. Oil Kings netminder Laurent Brossoit is 3rd in GAA (2.42), and is 3rd in wins (30).  Krisitans Pelss will serve the 2nd game of a three game suspension tonight. For Calgary, Victor Rask is 5th in rookie scoring (41), Alex Gogolev is tied in 6th (40)  Collin Bowman is 15th in scoring amongst defencemen (36).  This is the fifth of six meetings between the two clubs this year. Pregame show at 6:45, the puck drops at 7:00 on the Team 1260.

Top Ten #17

This is a poll of several Team 1260 members who follow the WHL closely and is compiled each Monday of the WHL season.

Weekly Review #17

Review: It was a quiet week for the Oil Kings.  Edmonton defeated the Rebels 3-2 in the week's only game.  Mitch Moroz led the way with a pair of goals, and Michael St. Croix tallied his 80th point of the season.

Friday Feb. 3- Win 3-2 vs Red Deer

Upcoming: Things pick up for the Oil Kings as they play four times this week.  They wrap up their five game homestand on Tuesday morning with a tilt with the Kootenay Ice.  Puck drops at 11:30 in the morning at Rexall Place.  After that the Kings hit the road for a season long six game road trip.  It kicks off in Calgary on Wednesday and included a pair of games in Prince George, and stops in Kamloops, Kelowna, and Vancouver.

Leaders: Goals: Michael St. Croix (33)

Assists: St. Croix (47)

Points: St. Croix (80)

PIMS: Mitch Moroz (104)

Plus/Minus: St. Croix (+33)

Wins: Laurent Brossoit (29)

Firsts: Game- Martin Gernat, Ashton Sautner, Cole Benson @ Red Deer, Sept 25. Tristan Jarry @ Saskatoon, Oct 8. Cody Corbett @ Brandon Oct 29, Brandon Baddock @ Lethbridge Nov. 19, Henrik Samuelsson @ Medicine Hat Jan. 12.

Goal- Gernat @ Red Deer, Sept 25,Curtis Lazar vs Medicine Hat Sept 30 (first regular season goal, scored in playoffs Mar 31, 2011), Mitch Moroz @ Swift Current Oct. 9, Ashton Sautner vs Portland Oct 21, Cody Corbett @ Victoria Nov. 8, Cole Benson vs Prince Albert Nov. 18, Henrik Samuelsson vs Kootenay Jan. 14, Tristan Sieban @ Prince Albert Jan 21.

Point- Gernat, Sautner @ Red Deer Sept 25, Tristan Sieben @ Medicine Hat Oct 1, Laurent Brossoit vs Regina Oct. 14, Corbett @ Victoria Nov 8, Benson, Mason Geertsen vs Prince Albert Nov 18, Henrik Samuelsson @ Medicine Hat, Jan 12.

Win- Tristan Jarry Oct 26 vs Everett.

Streaks: Martin Gernat 8 games (1-12-13)

Notes: The Kings head into the week leading the Eastern Conference with 74 points through 52 games, four points more than the Moose Jaw Warriors. Michael St. Croix entered the week tied for 6th in WHL scoring with 80 points in 52 games. Dylan Wruck is tied in 13th in league scoring with 64 points in 52 games. The Oil Kings have the second ranked power play in the WHL, they are third on the penalty kill..

Drafted: Mark Pysyk-Buffalo Sabres (1st Round, 2010), Kristians Pelss- Edmonton Oilers (7th, 2010), Keegan Lowe- Carolina Hurricanes (3rd, 2011), Travis Ewanyk- Oilers (3rd, 2011), Michael St. Croix- New York Rangers (4th, 2011), Martin Gernat- Oilers (5th, 2011), Laurent Brossoit- Calgary Flames (6th, 2011)

Schedule:

Tuesday- vs Kootenay Ice, Rexall Place, 11:30am

Wednesday- @ Calgary Hitmen, Scotiabank Saddledome, 7pm

Thursday- Travel Day

Friday- @ Prince George Cougars, CN Centre, 8pm MT

Saturday- @ Prince George Cougars, CN Centre, 8pm MT

Sunday- Travel Day

Monday- Off Day

WHL Eastern Conference Trainer's Poll

I have been asked by the Oil King trainers, Rogan Dean and Brian Cheeseman to publish the results of an informal poll of WHL Eastern Conference trainers.  Basically it is a best of the east amongst the guys who put in the longest hours in junior hockey.  The results are theirs, the comments are my own.  Without further ado, here is the WHL Eastern conference Trainer's Poll.

Best Pre-Game Meal:  St. Eugene's Resort, Cranbrook, BC.  This was a very tight vote, with Chianti's in Saskatoon finishing a close second.  Hard to argue with St. Eugene's they have an excellent spread for pregame.

Best Post-Game Meal: Tony Roma's, Red Deer, Alberta.  Another close vote, but with lots of places suggested.  No runaway winner in this one.

Best Hotel: Delta Bow Valley, Calgary, Alberta.  A clear choice here, and a good one.  Personally don't stay there often as the Oil Kings day trip Calgary usually, but did enjoy it when I had the chance.  Any hotel with a full Starbucks in the lobby gets my vote.  CanadInn in Brandon was second, I would imagine the convenience of a hotel attached to the rink would be a huge plus for trainers.

Best Warm Up Music: Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta.  Only two rinks received multiple votes, Edmonton and Calgary.

Best Goal Song: Rebel Yell, Red Deer, Alberta.  A wide variety of responses, but Red Deer edged out the other eastern rinks.  Some nice responses including ``Is there really a good goal song on the road?"

Worst Goal Song: Barbra Streisand, Edmonton, Alberta.  Not much doubt about this one, although there were some votes for others.  I can tell you this has been a bone of contention from most who cover the Oil Kings on a daily basis.  The highest scoring team has the worst goal song, too much Duck Sauce, I'm just glad we have headsets on in the booth.

Best Facilities for a Visiting Team: Tie- Moose Jaw and Edmonton.  Another tight vote with a lot of different places receiving votes.  Makes me think teams are treated pretty well everywhere in the league.

Best Media Room- Red Deer.  No doubt about this one, the largest margin of victory here.  Red Deer received over half of the vote.  The other rooms that had votes were Calgary and Swift Current.

Best Watering Hole- Champ's, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.  The only establishment to receive more than one vote.  I guess the trainers like to get out and explore the road towns a bit after a long day at the rink.  Can't say I blame them!  Best response was "Anywhere the GM pays!!"

Best Atmosphere in Rink: Medicine Hat Arena.  The Arena narrowly edged out Red Deer and Calgary.  Always fun with 4006 packed into the old barn, and I think other play-by-play guys would agree it has the best location for visiting broadcasters.  Now if they could only get a screen in!  The hot tub in Regina also received a vote.

Top Ten #16

This is a poll of several Team 1260 members who follow the WHL closely and is compiled each Monday of the WHL season.