REVAMPED ROOKIE GAME
Oilers choose new opponents
The time-honoured Edmonton Oilers rookies vs. University of Alberta Golden Bears game will change on the fly next month.
The Oilers’ freshmen prospects will instead take on a combined NAIT Ooks-MacEwan Griffins team at Rogers Place.
The Oilers and the U of A have had a long history with the rookie game, the first one coming in 1988. Apart from a four-year hiatus from 2009-12 when the teams didn’t play, they’ve met 26 times, with each team winning 13 times.
It had been held at the Clare Drake Arena on campus except for 2015’s edition, when they moved it to Rexall Place because of the overwhelming demand to see Connor McDavid.
The Oilers say there was no falling out with the University of Alberta, but it’s a big financial hit for the school’s hockey program.
“It’s just a shift … that’s at the heart of it. MacEwan is working on a business of hockey concept (at the school) and we’ve been trying to develop that,” said Oilers Entertainment Group vice-president Tim Shipton, acknowledging that the Griffins also play at the Downtown Community rink, where the Oilers also practise at various times during the season. So that’s a connection.
The Ooks and the Griffins also helped with game-night preparation by playing in test games at Rogers Place last September. The two colleges will share in the proceeds of the game, with tickets going on sale Thursday for $20 each at edmontonoilers.com.
The Bears have used the game as a major fundraiser for their hockey program, but the Oilers have changed gears with this fall’s game on Sept. 13, just before the Oilers’ main training camp opens. The Oilers haven’t released the list of their youngsters going to the Young Stars prospect tournament in Penticton the week before, which will form the roster for the game against NAITMacEwan, but Jesse Puljujarvi could be on the roster along with 2017 first-round draft pick Kailer Yamamoto.
“It doesn’t mean it’s forever that we’ll not play the Golden Bears again,” said Shipton, who was over at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial under-18
MacEwan is working on a business of hockey concept (at the school) and we’ve been trying to develop that.
championship in the Czech Republic and Slovakia this month to scope things out with the OEG bringing the No. 1 tournament for the NHL scouts to Rogers Place next August.
“The Oilers have had a long relationship with the Bears program, with (ex-coach) Billy Moores, our current assistant Ian Herbers, Matt Benning’s sister plays at U of A.”
The Ooks, who finished first in the 2016-17 Alberta Colleges Athletic Association season with a 22-6-2 record, have added former Toronto (AHL) Marlies defenceman Ty Stanton, ex-Edmonton Oil Kings winger Tyler Robertson, former WHL centre Thomas Foster (Moose Jaw Warriors and Vancouver Giants) and OHL and Saint Mary’s Huskies’ forward Francis Menard this season for Tim Fragle’s team. NAIT may also be getting Yamamoto’s older brother, Keanu, who scored 69 points in Spokane last season.
MacEwan was second to the Ooks, three points behind NAIT, with a 21-7-1 record for coach Bram Stephen.
Craig MacTavish’s forward/son Sean plays for the Griffins as do former NHLer Ken Yaremchuk’s sons Austin and Nolan.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for the NAIT Ooks to partner with our crosstown rivals from MacEwan University to showcase the calibre of ACAC men’s hockey,” said NAIT’s new athletics director John Bower, the grandson of the Toronto Maple Leafs goalie legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Johnny Bower.
“We thank the Oilers for offering our student-athletes this exceptional experience.”
ON THE BENCH: Jason Chimera of Edmonton, who always takes part in Perry Pearn’s pro 3-on-3 camp at the Knights of Columbus Twin Arenas before heading to NHL camp, isn’t there this year. The New York Islanders winger injured his hamstring doing lunges in the gym … Former NHLer Kyle Chipchura, the Westlock native who is a regular attendee at the camp, signed on to play for Mike Keenan’s new KHL team in Beijing … Pearn, who’s spent 22 years as an NHL assistant and a recent honouree for the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame, is still looking for work after being on Willie Desjardins’ Vancouver Canucks coaching staff. Pearn reportedly talked to the Colorado Avalanche, but they hired ex- St. Louis Blues assistant Ray Bennett instead to help Jared Bednar … Oilers at Pearn’s camp this week: Mark Letestu and Matt Benning, with Drake Caggiula coming in next week ... Possible seventh defenceman Ryan Stanton, signed this summer, and likely farmhands Keegan Lowe (signed in July) and spring free-agent goalie signee Shane Starrett, are also attending.