WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Comeback Falls Short

Published on September 1, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


St. Albert, AB - The Edmonton Oil Kings went postal for their second game of their Pre-Season Invitational. Unfortunately, that's not a good thing in hockey. Four Oil Kings hit the post and they threw everything they had at the Pats in the last 10 minutes but it wasn't quite enough as they fell 5 - 4 to Regina Sunday night at Servus Credit Union Place in St. Albert. What a finish. The home squad rallied with 3 goals in the last 2:13 and there was a line brawl with just 51 seconds to go in what was clearly the most entertaining hockey game of the Oil Kings tournament so far.

"It was really exciting." described Oil Kings bruising defenceman Adrian Van de Mosselaer who scored a pair of goals and added an assist in the final flurry. "We just stuck to our game and kept banging away and went towards the net and the last minute got pretty exciting."

Van de Mossealaer was on the ice for the last minute and just missed his hat trick on a mad scramble in front. Not bad for a guy that scored in his first WHL regular season game last year and hasn't scored since in 52 games. As for the line brawl at the end, the 6'2, 215 pound Kelowna resident says that'll go a long way towards team building.

"(Cameron) Cepek stepped up and we all stepped up today. It was good to see Robin (Soudek) get his first fight in and he did very good. It's good to know that guys aren't afraid to step up to the plate when the game getsa little messy."

Some might say it was a Rocky Thompson type game.

"I wouldn't say that." the Oil Kings assistant coach quickly pointed out. "But it was nice to see our guys at the end there just sticking up for each other. You could see that Regina was trying to take advantage of us throughout the game and I thought our guys responded well at the end. I truly think a lot of our guys not only surprised Regina but maybe even surprised themselves."

Oil Kings 18-year-old goalie Dalyn Flette looked solid as the starter for Edmonton. He played just over 30 minutes and made 11 saves on 13 shots. The Calgary native's best save was his last robbing Brett Breitkreuz's little brother Clarke on a clear cut breakaway from the red line and in, courtesy of a terrific pass from Pats winger Garrett Mitchell. That's the first time the Breitzkreuz brothers have had to play a competitive game of hockey against each other. Older brother Brett finished with a goal and an assist but admits younger brother Clarke gets the bragging rights after scoring the game winner.

"We've been on the same team and even on the same line until I went to play Pee Wee AA, and we haven't played together since. It was a little different, that's for sure. He still got the same winner. I didn't know who to cheer for on his breakaway. He can score a hat trick and we can win 4 - 3 and I'd take that every night."

Brent Raedeke rounded out the scoring for the Oil Kings. Koltyn Miller opened the scoring for the Pats and then Edmonton Oilers 1st round, 22nd overall draft pick Jordan Eberle stole the show from there with a pair of goals and an assist. Matt Streuby added a single for the Pats.

Regina will play one more game in this tournamentat 3:00 p.m. on Monday against the Prince George Cougars. Edmonton will close out the tournament in the 7 o'clock game against the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Earlier in the day, the Cougars edged the Swift Current Broncos 3 - 1 with an empty netter.

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Western Hockey League Stories from September 1, 2008


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