
Oil Kings Fall to Hitmen in First Game of 2025
January 1, 2025 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release
Edmonton, Alta. - The Edmonton Oil Kings dropped their first game of 2025 on Wednesday afternoon, falling 4-1 to the Calgary Hitmen.
The Oil Kings opened the scoring in this one courtesy of a great individual effort from Landon Hanson for his seventh of the season at the 7:59 mark. However, Calgary responded at the 14:38 of the frame as Ben Kindel scored on a powerplay to make it 1-1.
In the second, Calgary scored 36 seconds in off the stick of Hunter Aura, and while Edmonton outshot the Hitmen 10-6 in the period, they were unable to capitalize on a few excellent chances.
Carson Wetsch scored with just under seven minutes to play in the third to make it 3-1, and then Carter Yakemchuk added an empty netter with about three minutes to play to end it at a 4-1 score.
The Oil Kings were 0-for-4 on the powerplay and 5-for-6 on the penalty kill. Meanwhile Ethan Simcoe made 25 saves in the Edmonton net.
Edmonton is now 18-14-1-1 on the season and are back in action on Friday when they visit the Lethbridge Hurricanes to kick off a three-in-three with the Hurricanes.
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