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WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Acquire Forward Rhett Melnyk and Defenceman Bryson Andregg from Tri-City

August 9, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Edmonton, AB - The Edmonton Oil Kings have acquired forward Rhett Melnyk, defenceman Bryson Andregg and a conditional second round pick in 2023 from the Tri-City Americans in exchange for forward Jalen Luypen, a conditional fifth round pick in 2024 and a conditional second round pick in 2026, the team announced today.

"The Oil Kings organization is excited to acquire both Rhett and Bryson," said Oil Kings President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kirt Hill. "Anytime you are moving a player of Jalen's stature you need to acquire significant pieces to help the organization moving forward.

"Both players will be a big part of our group this season and moving forward. The second-round draft pick in the upcoming draft helps us recoup a pick used in a trade last season and will give us a good chance at adding a solid prospect at the draft in May."

Melnyk, 18, is entering his third full year in the WHL and is coming off a season that saw him put up 24 points (8G, 16A), 18 penalty minutes and a -34 plus/minus rating in 67 games.

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound forward has appeared in 86 career games in the WHL, tallying 27 points (9G, 18A), 27 penalty minutes and a -42 plus/minus rating. He was drafted by the Americans in the second round, 33rd overall, in the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft.

He played his minor hockey in his hometown of Fort Saskatchewan, AB with the Rangers. During his 2018-19 U15 season, he finished second in AMBHL scoring with the Rangers after putting up 74 points (35G, 39A) in 33 games and helped lead his team to the 2019 AMBHL Championship. The following season with the U18 Rangers, he finished tied for his team's lead in scoring with 31 points (11G, 20A) in 31 games.

"Rhett is a playmaking right-shot forward who can play both center and wing," added Hill. "He has a great skill set and high hockey IQ to create offence in the offensive zone. He is a local player who we know a lot about and will be a big part of our forward group moving forward."

Andregg, 19, is also entering his third full season in the WHL and is coming off a season in which he had four points (1G, 3A), 56 penalty minutes and a -18 plus/minus rating in 41 games with the Americans.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-shot rearguard is a native of Allen, Texas and was originally a ninth round, 190th overall, selection of the Americans in the 2018 WHL Prospects Draft.

In 56 career WHL games, he has put up seven points (1G, 6A), 75 penalty minutes and a -23 plus/minus rating.

During the 2019-20 season, he played with the Delta Hockey Academy U18 Prep team recording 10 points (3G, 7A) in 22 games and was named to the CSSHL All-Academic Team.

"Bryson will add a veteran presence to our defense group after having so many graduate at the end of last season," said Hill on his team's new blueliner. "He is a great skater who can transport the puck well. Bryson has a good first pass and will defend well down low. We look forward to seeing him at training camp at the start of September."

The Oil Kings are extremely excited to welcome both the Melnyk and Andregg families into the Oil Kings family.

Luypen, 20, played 200 regular season games, 19 post-season games and three Memorial Cup games with the Oil Kings from 2018-22 after being selected by the team in the ninth round, 180th overall, in the 2017 WHL Prospects Draft.

In his career, he has scored 124 points (61G, 63A) in the regular season, nine points (4G, 5A) in the playoffs and three points (1G, 2A) at the Memorial Cup. This past spring, he helped the Oil Kings capture their third WHL Championship in modern franchise history.

He was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the seventh round, 216th overall, in the 2021 NHL Draft and was signed by the team to his NHL entry-level contract on August 2, 2022.

Luypen was named the Oil Kings 2021-22 Blue Willow Unsung Hero Award winner and was also named the Oil Kings Most Improved Player following the 2020-21 season.

"Jalen was a true example of what an Oil King is both on and off the ice," said Hill. "His commitment to the team and our community will be missed as he was a huge part of the success our group had over the past four seasons.

"We wish Jalen all the best in Tri-Cities and his future pro hockey endeavors."

Rhett Melnyk profile at: https://whl.ca/players/28497

Bryson Andregg profile at: https://whl.ca/players/28499

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