GDB # 27 vs Spokane

Oil Kings (26 15-8-1-2) vs Spokane Chiefs (21 11-7-1-2)

Tonight the Oil Kings and Chiefs face off for the only time this season.  Edmonton comes into the game riding a three game win streak, coming off a 5-2 win over the Hurricanes on Saturday night.  Michael St. Croix and Tyler Maxwell led the way with two goals apiece.


The Chiefs are coming off back to back losses.  They fell 5-3 in Portland on Friday and lost at home to Prince George 5-4.    Spokane has played a league low 21 games this season, and sit 5th in the Western Conference.  They have yet to win on the road this season going 0-4-1-2.

Players to watch: 

Edmonton: Cole Benson.  The 16 year old Benson has been used in mainly a defensive role so far for the Oil Kings. The South Side Athletic Club product has impressed in that role and is earning more ice time as his rookie season in the WHL progresses.  Benson notched his first goal in the WHL a few games back against the Raiders.  He also played a larger role last game out against the Hurricanes with a couple players out of the lineup.

Spokane:  Brenden Kichton.  The New York Islander draft pick is the offensive leader of the Spokane blue line.  With the graduation of Jared Cowen to the Ottawa Senators, Kichton has become the go to guy.  After an impressive year last season (23 goals, 81 points in 64 games), the Spruce Grove native has drawn a lot of attention.  His numbers are off last year's pace (3 goals, 20 points in 21 games) but he has earned an invite to Hockey Canada's upcoming selection camp for the World Junior Championships.


Last Year: Spokane took the lone meeting last year between the two clubs 4-3.  It was a very physical game that featured three fights and some huge collisions.  Spokane finished third in the West last year with 102 points.  They made it all the way to the Western final before bowing out to the Portland Winterhawks in six games.  The Oil Kings have never earned a point of the Chiefs (0-4-0-0).

Leaders:

Goals- EDM- Tyler Maxwell, Michael St. Croix (13)

SPO- Anthony Bardaro (14)

Points- EDM- St. Croix (33)

SPO- Bardaro (26)

Wins- EDM- Laurent Brossoit (13)
SPO- Mac Engel (9)

PIMS- EDM- Keegan Lowe (55)
SPO- Darren Kramer (75)

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)

LET- Brenden Kichton- New York Islanders (5th, 2011), Dominik Uher- Pittsburgh Penguins (5th, 2011), Darren Kramer- Ottawa Senators (6th, 2011)

Injury Report:

EDM:  #3, Mark Pysyk, Upper body, day to day
#7, Stephane Legault, Upper body, 1 week
#15, David Stephens, Upper body, week to week
#16, TJ Foster, Upper body, day to day
#21, Travis Ewanyk, Upper body, 1 month +


SPO: #17, Mitch Holmberg, Upper body, 1 week
#24, Cole Wedman, Upper body, 1 week

Notes:  Oil Kings forward Michael St. Croix is tied for 12th in league scoring (33). Defenceman Martin Gernat is tied for 5th in rookie scoring in the WHL (22 points), Curtis Lazar is 14th (16 points). Gernat is also tied for 5th in scoring amongst defencemen.  Gernat has also been named to Team Slovkia for the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships.  Captain Mark Pysyk has been invited to participate in the selection camp for Team Canada.  Spokane's Brendan Kichton has also been invited by Canada.  Oil Kings netminder Laurent Brossoit is 5th in GAA (2.43).  This is the only meeting between the clubs this season.  Edmonton has never beat the Chiefs (0-4-0-0).  Pregame show at 6:45, the puck drops at 7:00 on the Team 1260.