EX-WHL CHAMP BRINGS OFFENSIVE FLAIR TO OIL KINGS ALONG WITH PHYSICAL PLAY
Edmonton knocks off rebuilding Regina to maintain top spot in Central Division
Andrew Fyten has made a positive impact with the Edmonton Oil Kings since he was acquired in a trade with the Swift Current Broncos in December.
Normally that impact comes in the form of gritty, physical play, yet on Sunday Fyten, 20, showcased his offensive side, scoring a goal and adding two assists in a 5-2 win against the Regina Pats at Rogers Place.
The win kept the Oil Kings atop the WHL Central Division standings, ahead of the Medicine Hat Tigers and Lethbridge Hurricanes, who are right on their heels.
“We had a 20-year-old (overage) spot open for a while and we didn’t just want to bring in a bunch of 20-year-olds and see,” said Oil Kings head coach Brad Lauer. “We waited for some time and did some research and his name kept coming up, and we were able to make an offer to get him.
“For us, we knew what he could do on the ice, the responsibility he brings defensively, but he’s doing a lot more offensively and he’s creating opportunities and he’s taking advantage of the offensive minutes he’s getting.”
Fyten has five goals and 14 points in 20 games with the Oil Kings this season. He had eight goals and 17 points in 27 games with the Broncos, who are now in full rebuild mode after winning the WHL championship last season.
The Sundre, Alta., product has also brought valued leadership to an otherwise young group, which have come of age this season after missing the playoffs the past two years.
“I think as soon as I came in, I knew what I was brought here for,” Fyten said. “I knew that they wanted my experience because I was on that championship team and I try to voice my opinion as much as I can.”
The three-point game was the first for Fyten with the Oil Kings and it earned him first-star honours in the contest.
Carter Souch, Scott Atkinson, David Kope and Trey Fix-Wolansky also scored for the Oil Kings, while goaltender Dylan Myskiw made 34 saves.
“I think (Liam) Keeler’s line (Souch, Josh Williams) led the way for us there,” Fyten said. “They were on the ball right away and we just followed and got two quick goals in the second and went from there.”
Austin Pratt and Logan Nijhoff scored for Regina, who are also going through a rebuilding stage after making it to the WHL final two seasons ago and hosting the Memorial Cup last year. Max Paddock made 40 saves.
Pratt scored with 2:28 left in the first period to put Regina ahead 1-0 after the Pats had been withstanding an enormous amount of pressure through the majority of the frame.
Pratt was able to spin away from defenceman Will Warm in the corner and took the puck to the net where he stuffed it in past Myskiw.
The lead held up for the remainder of the period, but it only took the Oil Kings 50 seconds in the second to tie the game 1-1 after Souch converted a pass from Keeler on a 2-on-0 breakaway.
Souch showcased his speed, catching up to Keeler who got in behind the Regina defence and was heading in all alone on net.
“I knew he was going to pass the puck across, I just didn’t know when,” Souch said. “I just had to be ready and I just tried to do my best to get up there with him and it was great pass.”
Atkinson gave the Oil Kings a 2-1 lead just over a minute later when he buried a cross-crease pass from Vladimir Alistrov in past Paddock.
Alistrov and Quinn Benjafield won a puck battle behind the net against Pats defenceman Tyson Feist, which led to the goal.
Kope increased the lead to 3-1 at 6:25 of the period, when he looked off Fyten from the left faceoff circle and took a shot, which hit Pats defenceman Nikita Sedov and found its way into the net.
Sedov dove to try to break up a potential centring pass to Fyten and had the puck hit him in the back and deflect into the far corner of the net past Paddock,
I knew that they wanted my experience because I was on that championship team and I try to voice my opinion as much as I can.
who was caught off guard by the change of pace on the shot.
Fyten scored four minutes into the third period to put the Oil Kings up 4-1, beating Paddock with a shot on a rush off the right wing.
Nijhoff cut the lead to 4-2 midway through the period, but it was as close at the Pats would get. Fix-Wolansky scored into an empty net with 55 seconds left, flipping the puck from deep into his own end and bouncing it in.
“I think everyone knows the situation we’re in with the standings and we want that top seed,” Fyten said. “We’re pushing every night to get points. It’s the best time of the year, and being at the top, teams are understanding the threat that we pose and they’re coming in with their best, so we have to be ready for that.”