A LOOK AT THE FUTURE
Oil Kings picks introduced
A few weeks after watching graduating players walk out the door, the Edmonton Oil Kings welcomed a new pair of hopefuls.
On Monday, the Oil Kings introduced their top two picks in this year’s WHL bantam draft: defenceman Matthew Robertson and forward Liam Keeler.
Both are local-area products and are projected to develop into key members of the organization once they ’re eligible to play in the Western Hockey League.
“With Matthew, he’s kind of today’s type of defenceman, he has the ability to skate very well, skate the puck up ice and move it very well,” said Oil Kings general manager Randy Hansch. “He has a really good first pass and it’s something we’re trying to build around, get that uptempo game.
“Liam is very similar, too. He has high-end offence, does everything at high speed and has a responsible two-way game. When we were able to acquire both players, we were certainly pleased that the opportunity presented itself and we’re very happy.”
Robertson, 15, the younger brother of Oil Kings forward Tyler Robertson, was selected seventh overall by the club in the draft two weeks ago.
Robertson had an excellent season with the Sherwood Park bantam AAA Flyers, scoring seven goals and collecting 27 points in 32 games.
“I grew up watching the Oil Kings and it’s just a dream and getting drafted by them, it’s just surreal,” Robertson said. “You never really know what to expect in the draft and it ended up working out perfectly.”
Robertson won’t be eligible to play full time in the WHL until the 2017-18 season, and therefore, will not get an opportunity to play with his brother, who is heading into his final year of junior eligibility.
Regardless, the Oil Kings hope Robertson eventually becomes a quality high-end defenceman as they continue to rebuild following their 2014 Memorial Cup championship.
“We watched Matthew for a while and he’s grown up around the Oil Kings, which has helped,” Hansch said. “We had a pretty good book on him coming up and he just kept getting better and better, and we saw him a lot playing, in Sherwood Park, so that certainly helped.”
After selecting Robertson in the draft, the Oil Kings traded up, sending their second- and thirdround picks to the Victoria Royals in exchange for the final pick in the first round, 22nd overall, to select Keeler.
The Edmonton product had 26 goals and 51 assists for 77 points in 34 games for the Southside Athletic Club Southgate Lions and was named the Alberta Major Bantam League’s most valuable player.
“We watched Liam a lot and he was a player we wanted also,” Hansch said. “It was just a case that we tried a couple of times to acquire a pick there and it didn’t happen, but it happened right at the end. We kept going there and (head scout) Jamie (Novakoski) and the scouting staff were excited that he was still there. We tried to make a push for it and were excited that we were able to flip picks and acquire Liam.”
According to Hansch, the Oil Kings did not set out to draft two local players with their first two picks. It just happened the two players they were most interested in selecting were from the area.
“At that spot (in the draft), you take the best player and if it’s local, then it’s a bonus,” Hansch said. “For one, they’re familiar with the program and the organization and we’re probably more familiar with them. But we’ll never just get into drafting kids from just certain areas. In the end, it just worked out that way. They come from the Alberta Bantam League, which is a very good league. Not only do they get to play with good players, but they play against good players, so they have constant development throughout the year.”
Both Robertson and Keeler are expected to play midget hockey next season and are eligible for five games with the Oil Kings through the duration of their minor hockey season.
“It’s definitely very exciting to know that a team really wanted you and were willing to trade up to get you,” Keeler said. “It was a very exciting day for me and my family for sure. I’ve grown up watching this team and it’s definitely surreal to put on this jersey and to know this is a team that I have an opportunity to play for.”