Kehler will leave with no regrets
Oil Kings captain playing for pride as WHL career comes to an end Sunday
Colton Kehler has proudly worn the captaincy for the Edmonton Oil Kings this year in what proved to be a difficult season.
The 20-year-old forward was tasked with leading a young group of players through the perils of the Western Hockey League season and did it with distinction.
Kehler had his most productive year and goes into his final home game with the Oil Kings Saturday (7 p.m.) against the Calgary Hitmen with few misgivings.
“I don’t want to have any regrets leaving, I just want to try to leave here fulfilled with what I’ve done and what I’ve accomplished,” Kehler said. “I just want to be able to look back at it and be able to say I left it all out there. I really do believe in leaving with no regrets. It’s about playing hard the last few games and finishing with some pride.”
Kehler will play his final game with the Oil Kings Sunday in the second of the back-to-back games with Calgary to end the season.
Selected by the Oil Kings in the seventh round of the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft, the Port Coquitlam, B.C., product played three seasons with the Oil Kings. He has 31 goals and 49 points in 69 games this season.
“It hasn’t been the easiest at times throughout the year, but I feel this year has probably been my most consistent year out of the three here,” Kehler said. “The responsibility was big, but I feel, overall, I did a good job with the guys and was a good role model for the younger guys in the community and stuff. It’s definitely something I’ll be proud of looking back.”
What made the leadership task more difficult for Kehler were the few players in his age group on a rebuilding roster. Kehler, Tomas Soustal and Travis Child were the three overage players on the team to start the season, but Child went down with an injury before Christmas. Goaltender Josh Dechaine, who replaced Child, is the only other player on the roster over the age of 18.
“He’s just been a very steady progression of not only leadership, but maturity. He’s come a long way in the three years he’s been here,”
I just want to be able to look back at it and be able to say I left it all out there. I really do believe in leaving with no regrets.
said Oil Kings head coach Steve Hamilton. “The captaincy was an important piece for him this year and he’s been an important driver for us this year on and off the ice.
“Our team, at times, you can see the age gap and those two have been asked to carry a lot of weight at times. There is not other 19- or 20-year-olds around to shoulder that, so they ’ve taken that responsibility on and never ducked from what it meant and what it looked like. I have all the respect in the world for both of those players.”
Kehler was awarded the captaincy early in the season and took the responsibility seriously. He took into account the lessons learned from the veteran players when he was a rookie in the league.
“When it kind of gets down to this point of the year, you want to play for the younger guys, whether you’re in a playoff spot or not,” Kehler said. “You start to think of the speech that (Brandon) Baddock gave when we were 18 and we lost out in Brandon. I remember how much the 20s felt it when we lost out in the playoffs. I think finishing hard now when a whole lot is on the table will be a good lesson for the younger guys. Just stay true to yourself and keep pushing until it’s over.”
Undrafted by an NHL club, Kehler will weigh his options moving forward after he graduates from the WHL.
“I think going to school is probably a smart thing,” Kehler said. “Pro hockey is definitely something that I’ve always wanted in my life. I have a few options, but I think going to school is definitely the smartest thing to do right now. When I get home, I’ll take a few weeks or month to clear my mind a little bit and make a good decision. I think it’s smart to go to school and if I want to aspire to a pro career, I can do that after I get my degree.”