Oil Kings gushing about future
Dominant win over Lethbridge hints at better days ahead in coming seasons
The Edmonton Oil Kings saved their best for last — or at least second-last.
Playing the penultimate home game of their Western Hockey League season, the Oil Kings gave fans a glimpse into the future with a convincing 5-1 win against the Lethbridge Hurricanes at Rogers Place Tuesday.
The Oil Kings round out their home schedule Saturday against the Calgary Hitmen (7 p.m.) before wrapping up the year in Calgary Sunday afternoon.
“I think you see the emergence of really our future,” Oil Kings head coach Steve Hamilton said. “Some of our young offensive guys like David Kope, who’s been a positive story this season. If you would have asked him in August what his plans were for the season, I don’t think he had his plans set on Edmonton at all, honestly.
“To see him come to camp hungry to make the team and the development that’s gone on from there, I think that’s a real positive story.”
The Oil Kings will miss the WHL playoffs for the second consecutive year, but the promise showed in the second half of the season suggests the skid will likely end next season.
The Oil Kings’ young roster has come of age this season, playing in situations they likely would not get an opportunity to play if it were an older, more experienced team. Edmonton has just three players on the roster older than 18 and only two not eligible to come back next season.
“It was good to get a couple of power play goals,” Kope said. “It was really good for the young guys and we’re excited for next year, for sure.”
Trey Fix-Wolansky led the way for the Oil Kings against the Hurricanes with a goal and three assists. Colton Kehler, Nick Bowman, Conner McDonald and Tomas Soustal also scored for Edmonton in one of their most convincing wins of the season. Kobe Mohr had two assists, while Josh Dechaine made 26 saves.
Jadon Joseph scored the lone goal for the Hurricanes and Logan Flodell made 30 saves.
The Hurricanes, who have clinched a playoff spot by finishing second in the Central Division standings, were the better team out of the gate, outshooting the Oil Kings 9-1 at one point in the period.
Joseph gave Lethbridge the lead 5:48 into the game, getting a rebound in font and sweeping it past Dechaine.
The Oil Kings battled back in the latter half of the period and had a couple of good opportunities to tie the game. The shots finished 12-11 for the Hurricanes in the period.
The Oil Kings maintained their momentum in the second and exploded for five goals, taking control of the contest.
“We didn’t have the greatest start. Coming into the intermission after the first period, we knew
It was good to get a couple of power play goals. It was really good for the young guys and we’re excited for next year, for sure.
what we had to do to be better,” Fix-Wolansky said. “We came out in that second period and got fortunate with a couple of power plays and got ahead that way and played a solid five-on-five game the rest of the game.”
Kehler tied the game on the power play two minutes into the period, one-timing a shot from the left faceoff circle past Flodell.
Bowman scored just over five minutes later, taking a drop pass from Davis Murray and wiring a shot over Flodell’s shoulder.
McDonald made it 3-1 on a twoman advantage, ripping a shot from the point past Flodell, who didn’t see the puck until it was already behind him.
Soustal increased the lead to 4-1, scoring on the remaining penalty, taking a pass from Brett Kemp in front of the net and lifting a backhand over Flodell.
Fix-Wolansky scored the Oil Kings’ fifth goal with 1:12 to go in the period. Edmonton’s leading scorer picked up his 31st goal of the year, stepping into a shot after Kope had been stopped by Flodell on a drive to the net.
“We came out a little slow, but we definitely recovered after that — we came out flying in the second,” Dechaine said.
“Obviously, scoring five goals make the job easier on me, so it was nice to really have that big lead. It’s been a while since we’ve had one of those, so we were just able to lock it down.”