WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Edmonton Oil Kings Finally Beat Medicine Hat

Published on January 7, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Edmonton, AB - The Tigers are finally tamed. The Edmonton Oil Kings welcomed back V-I-P's Tomas Vincour and Mark Pysyk from international tournaments, passed on congratulations to Edmonton native Tyler Ennis and Tigers coach Willie Desjardins and followed that up with a gigantic 3 - 2 win over their archrivals from the south. Rookie T.J. Foster scored the game winner midway through the third period and Torrie Jung was spectacular in net finishing with 24 saves as the Oil Kings picked up their first ever win over the Medicine Hat Tigers in modern franchise history.

"We certainly make it difficult for ourselves." said a relieved Oil Kings Head Coach Steve Pleau after the Oil Kings finished the night killing off 7 of 8 Tigers powerplays. "Our battle level in the second and third period was good. We still have got a lot to learn about winning hockey games and controlling the tempo of the game but I'm proud that we battled. We found a way to win."

"The win means a lot." described Oil Kings forward Craig McCallum. "It was a huge win. It was a huge team win. I think everyone played hard and we knew what we needed to do and we knew this team was a tough opponent for us over the past 2 years. We had one last shot this year to do it so we got her done."

The Oil Kings had a glorious chance to opening the scoring just over 7 minutes into the hockey game. Tigers defenseman Jace Coyle whiffed on a pass right beside his own net and Brent Raedeke had a late Christmas present in the slot. He sailed a wrist shot high and wide and didn't even get a shot on net.

Edmonton would get the first goal of the game a couple of minutes later off the rush. Shayne Neigum fought off a check and delivered a nice drop pass to Clayton Cumiskey trailing the play. He beat Tigers goalie Ryan Holfeld up high to give the Oil Kings the all important first goal of the game. Edmonton's record when they open the scoring is now 14-3-0-1.

Medicine Hat would reply with just under 4 minutes to go in the period on the powerplay. The Tigers caught Edmonton's defense a little flat footed and Linden Vey had time to set up Mark Isherwood jumping up into the play. The 19 year old defenseman banked a shot off the back-checking Jeff Lee and then Oil Kings goalie Torrie Jung before the puck trickled into the net. Tigers goalie Ryan Holfeld also picked up an assist on the play. It was 1 - 1 heading into the first intermission.

There was lots of action in the second period but not many goals. Cumiskey was at it again. This time he did a nice job of breaking up a play at the point on the Tigers powerplay. That lead to a partial shorthanded 2 on 1 for the Oil Kings. Cumiskey decided to keep and shoot but Holfeld came up with a big stop.

A few minutes later, an even strength 2 on 1 developed for the Oil Kings down low. Jeff Lee centered for Brent Raedeke but he wasn't able to pull the trigger. You could tell the Oil Kings started to gain some momentum.

It finally paid off with about 2 and a half minutes to go in the period. Edmonton's defense was moving the puck well. Henrik Tervonen zipped a pass over to his defense partner Brandon Lockerby who spotted Craig McCallum set up in the high slot. McCallum had all kinds of time to pick a corner and fire a wrist shot home low on the short side. McCallum's on a 3 game point streak now and that goal gave the Oil Kings a 2 - 1 lead heading into the third.

Edmonton gained a little breathing room just over 9 minutes into the third period. They had some pressure down low in the Tigers zone just after a powerplay expired. Jeff Lee found some room to skate the puck out from behind the net. He managed to get a pass over to T.J. Foster who was also going hard to the net. Foster tapped one home between the legs of Holfeld for a 3 - 1 lead.

That breathing room lasted all of 21 seconds. The Oil Kings took another penalty giving the Tigers their 7th powerplay on the night. They cashed in. Taylor Gal scored his 5th of the year from Linden Vey and Tristan King and all of a sudden, it was a one goal game again.

The game saver came with 7 minutes to go in regulation. Torrie Jung came sliding across his crease and kicked up the leg with an old school pad stack. He absolutely robbed Bretton Cameron to preserve the win.

Jung's was gracious when he heard that his coach described the save as the greatest that he's ever seen since he's been here.

"That's nice of him but at the same time, it wasn't anything out of the ordinary I thought. Maybe Pleau was just trying to pump my tires. It was just instinct, I wish I could explain it to you but it makes no sense in my head so it wouldn't make any sense in anybody else's."

Edmonton's on a 2 game winning streak and their record improves to 18-20-2-4. More importantly they join the log jam and are tied for 8th place in the WHL's Eastern Conference with Prince Albert, Lethbridge and Regina. The Tigers have lost 4 of their last 5 games.

Next up for the Oil Kings will be a 3 game in 3 night stretch in 3 different cities in Moose Jaw, Brandon and Regina Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively. Oil Kings prospects Ryan Dech and Michael St. Croix are scheduled to make their Oil Kings debut. The next home game for the Oil Kings is not until next Thursday when they host World Junior standouts Evander Kane and Jonathan Blum and the Vancouver Giants. The first 2000 fans will receive a free Oil Kings rally towel when they come to the game.

Check out the Edmonton Oil Kings Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Western Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central