GDB #9 vs Calgary

Oil Kings (8 5-2-1-0) vs Hitmen (6 4-0-1-1)

For the third time this season the Oil Kings and Hitmen face off tonight in the junior version of the 'Battle of Alberta'.  The Hitmen have taken both previous matchups so far this season.  Edmonton is coming off a hard earned victory in Medicine Hat 4-2 over the Tigers.  They led 4-0 before penalty trouble finally caught up with them, allowing the Tigers to get on the board.  Brett Pollock scored his first WHL goal, Dylan Wruck, Henrik Samuelsson, and Griffin Reinhart tallied for Edmonton.  Cole Benson picked up his first two WHL assists as well. 
Meanwhile Calgary hasn't played since last Sunday's 6-5 overtime win over Edmonton at the Saddledome.

 

Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings

Season Series:  Calgary is undefeated against the Oil Kings this year winning 4-1 at Rexall Place early in the year and knocking off the Kings 6-5 in overtime in Cowtown.  The teams meet six times this season, all before the Christmas break.  They face each other three more times in December to round out the first half of the year.

The Opposition: Calgary is yet to lose in regulation this year.  They have lost to Red Deer in overtime and have a shootout loss against Prince Albert.  Like earlier mentioned they have had almost a full week off since beating the Kings in Calgary in a wild game on Sunday.

Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings

 

Leaders:

Goals- EDM- TJ Foster (7)

CAL- Cody Sylvester (5)

Points- EDM- Michael St. Croix (11)

CAL- Brooks Macek (9)

Wins- EDM- Laurent Brossoit (4)

CAL- Chris Driedger (4)

PIMS- EDM- Travis Ewanyk (25) 
CAL- Darian Henry (21)

Next Up: The Oil Kings hit the road for the last time this month for a Sunday evening affair with the Kootenay Ice.  The Oil Kings won't be on the road again until early November when they leave Rexall on their annual Rodeo trip.  The Hitmen open a three game in three night stretch here tonight.  They host Red Deer and Kamloops this weekend.



Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings

Drafted:

EDM- Keegan Lowe- Carolina Hurricanes (3rd, 2011), Travis Ewanyk- Edmonton Oilers (3rd, 2011), Michael St. Croix- New York Rangers (4th, 2011), Martin Gernat- Oilers (5th, 2011), Laurent Brossoit- Calgary Flames (6th, 2011), Griffin Reinhart- New York Islanders (1st, 2012), Henrik Samuelsson- Phoenix Coyotes (1st, 2012), Mitch Moroz- Oilers (2nd, 2012).

CAL- Brooks Macek- Detroit Red Wings (6th, 2010), Victor Rask- Hurricanes (2nd, 2011), Chris Driedger- Ottawa Senators (3rd, 2012), Kenton Helgesen- Anaheim Ducks (7th, 2012), Jaynen Rissling- Washington Capitals (7th, 2012), Alex Roach (signed free agent- Los Angeles Kings).
 

Draft Watch (NHL Central Scouting Preliminery Watch List)

A Skaters- Curtis Lazar (EDM),
B Skaters- Mason Geertsen (EDM)
C Skaters- Cody Corbett, Edgars Kulda, Ashton Sautner (EDM)
B Goaltenders- Tristan Jarry (EDM)
 
Injury Report:

EDM: #7 Stephane Legault, lower body, week to week
#28 Martin Gernat, upper body, indefinite

CAL:  #17 Pavlo Padakin, upper body, day to day#19 Calder Brooks, upper body, 1 month
Roster Notes:  Keegan Lowe made his return to the Oil Kings lineup on Wednesday in Medicine Hat.  Hitmen forward Victor Rask has made the opening day roster for the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League.

 

Notes: The Giants have acquired Kale Kessey from the Medicine Hat Tigers in exchange for a conditional 5th round pick in the 2015 bantam draft.  The Giants released 20 year old John Neibrandt to make room for Kessey.  Overage defenceman Conner Cox was claimed off waivers from Saskatoon by the Everett Silvertips, who released 20 year Cody Fowlie to make room on their roster.  Tonight is one of ten games on the schedule. Pregame at 7:15, puck drop at 7:30 on the Team 1260.