Robertson closes out Oil Kings career

After scoring a key goal in the 2014 Memorial Cup final and then getting to lift the trophy as a 17-yearold, the rest of Tyler Robertson’s junior hockey career was destined to be anticlimactic.

Robertson, 20, played his final Western Hockey League game Sunday as the Oil Kings wrapped up their 2016-17 season with a come-from-behind 5-4 overtime win over the Red Deer Rebels in front of a sold-out crowd of 18,102 at Rogers Place.

Riley Stadel, in his final WHL game, scored the overtime winner, while Robertson assisted on Colton Kehler’s tying goal with 61 seconds left in the third period. Trey Fix-Wolansky scored 30 seconds prior to that as the Oil Kings battled back from a late 4-2 deficit to send the game into overtime.

Tyson Gruninger and Ethan Cap, with his first WHL goal, also scored for the Oil Kings, who finished they year on a three-game winning streak. Goaltender Patrick Dea made 22 saves in the win.

“It was pretty emotional,” Robertson said. “The (pre-game ceremony) with the jersey (presentations) and the awards and stuff, they really make you feel appreciated in this organization in how well they treat their players.”

Robertson finished the season with 15 goals and 36 points in 66 games.In total he played 236 games for the Oil Kings, scoring 40 goals and adding 49 assists.

“I started at Christmas my first year and I joined a pretty good team,” Robertson said. “We had a great run and those are memories you’ll never forget. I’ve gone to weddings of people on that team and that’s a group that you’ll have a lifelong relationship with.”

The Sherwood Park product joined the Oil Kings midway through the 2013-14 season, having played the first half of the year with the Spruce Grove Saints. He played 26 regular season games as a rookie and then was a regular in the playoffs as the Oil Kings won the WHL championship and later the Memorial Cup.

In the final, the Oil Kings fell behind 2-1 to the Guelph Storm, before Robertson scored his only goal of the tournament two minutes into the second period to tie the game. The Oil Kings would go on to win 6-3 and claim the title.

“He’s always been a steady, unsung contributor to the lineup,” Oil Kings head coach Steve Hamilton said. “He just goes about his business and he’s well-liked by our group. He’s an important guy.”