
Oil Kings Continue Homestand against Blades
January 8, 2025 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release
Edmonton, Alta. - The Edmonton Oil Kings continue a five-game homestand tonight at Rogers Place as they host the Saskatoon Blades.
Edmonton is coming off a three-in-three weekend against the Lethbridge Hurricanes where they earned five of a possible six points, helping improve their record to 20-14-1-2, good for 43 points and the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference heading into Wednesday's action. The Oil Kings have also gone 12-4-0-1 in their last 17 games since a four-game losing streak in mid-November.
The opponents, the Blades, are in the middle of a three-game Alberta road swing and are coming off a 3-2 overtime win over Red Deer on Tuesday night. The Blades are currently 22-12-2-2 on the season and have 48 points, tops in the Eastern Conference. Offensively, Ben Riche leads the way for the Blades, sitting Top-10 in the WHL in scoring with 54 points (23G, 31A) in 37 games.
Tonight, will mark the third of four meetings this season between the Blades and Oil Kings. To this point, the Blades have won both meetings, one in each locale. The trio of Gracyn and Lukas Sawchyn, as well as Roan Woodward lead the way offensively in the season series for Edmonton with each of them earning one goal and one assist so far. Riche is the Blades leader against Edmonton with five points (2G, 3A) in the two games.
Edmonton will put their 12-5-0-1 home record on the line tonight as they look to improve on their +25-goal differential on home ice, as well as their league best 86.8% penalty kill at home.
Puck drop from Rogers Place is 7 p.m.
Oil Kings Scoring Leaders (GP, G-A-Pts):
Gracyn Sawchyn (34, 19-32-51)
Gavin Hodnett (37, 15-23-38)
Roan Woodward (37, 15-22-37)
Lukas Sawchyn (37, 7-19-26)
Adam Jecho (26, 9-15-24)
Oil Kings Milestone Watch:
D Josh Mori will play in his 200th WHL Game TONIGHT
D Blake Fiddler is 4 games away from 100 in the WHL
F Roan Woodward is 2 points away from 100 in the WHL
Blades Scoring Leaders (GP, G-A-Pts):
Ben Riche (37, 23-31-54)
Tyler Parr (36, 16-22-38)
Rowan Calvert (34, 14-18-32)
Grayden Siepmann (38, 4-22-36)
Cooper Williams (38, 8-17-25)
2024-25 Schedule vs. Saskatoon Blades:
Thursday, October 17 @ EDM (6-2 SAS)
Friday, November 15 @ SAS (3-2 SAS)
Wednesday, January 8 @ Edmonton
Sunday, March 2 @ Saskatoon
• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board...
Western Hockey League Stories from January 8, 2025
- Tigers Acquire Rights to Cruz Chase from Regina - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Silvertips Acquire Landon Cowper from Kelowna Rockets - Everett Silvertips
- Rockets Acquire WHL Prospects Draft Pick for Defenceman Landon Cowper - Kelowna Rockets
- Game Preview: Cougars vs. Giants: 0 - Prince George Cougars
- Rebels Trade Goaltender Tabashniuk to Pats - Red Deer Rebels
- Pats Acquire Local Goaltender Tabashniuk from Rebels - Regina Pats
- Rockets Acquire Forward Hayden Paupanekis And Five Draft Picks From Spokane Chiefs For Forward Andrew Cristall - Kelowna Rockets
- Spokane Chiefs Acquire 2005-Born Forward Andrew Cristall from Kelowna Rockets - Spokane Chiefs
- Oil Kings Continue Homestand against Blades - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Winterhawks Reassign F Luke Wilfley - Portland Winterhawks
- Holinka and Jecho Return from World Juniors with Bronze - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Game Preview: Game 40 vs Prince Albert Raiders - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Cougars Acquire Veteran Sniper Riche from Blades in Exchange for Laing, Dumas, and Draft Picks - Prince George Cougars
- Giants Drop Tight Affair to Cougars 4-2 - Vancouver Giants
- T-Birds Come up Short Versus Royals - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Road Trip Opens with Loss in Lethbridge - Moose Jaw Warriors
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.
Other Recent Edmonton Oil Kings Stories
- Oil Kings Season Ends with Game 7 Loss to Raiders
- Oil Kings and Raiders First Round Series Comes Down to Game 7
- Oil Kings and Raiders Need Game Seven
- Oil Kings Get Chance to Close out Series with Raiders at Home
- Oil Kings Outshoot Raiders Again, Fall in Game Five

