WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Oil Kings Invade Brandon Friday

Published on November 8, 2007 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, Manitoba -- The name may by old and synonymous to junior hockey in Edmonton but the team that will invade Brandon's Westman Place Friday night to face off against the Wheat Kings will be brand new to western Manitoba hockey fans.

The Edmonton Oil Kings are the newest entry in the Western Hockey League, having joined the 22-team circuit this season as an expansion franchise and if the first two months are any indication, so far so good.

Led by the likes of goalkeeper Alex Archibald, former Wheat King Brandon Lockerby and former Calgary Hitmen Robin Figren, the Oil Kings occupy fourth place in the WHL's Central Division this season with a very respectable 9-8-1-2 record, good for 21 points and eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

A former Prince Albert Raider, Archibald has appeared in sixteen of Edmonton's first 20 games, compiling a .901 save percentage and a 3.27 goals against average. A native of Stockholm, Sweden, Figren leads the Kings in scoring with seven goals and 14 points in sixteen games while Douglas product Brandon Lockerby has two goals and 4 points in eighteen games and will be forever be remembered for scoring the first ever goal in "new" Oil Kings history.

This year marks the first time since 1998 that the city City of Edmonton has had a WHL franchise. The Kootenay Ice began as the Edmonton Ice in 1996 but after two lacklustre seasons in the Alberta capital, the Ice moved southwest to Cranbrook, B.C.

In fact, this year's version of the Oil Kings, owned by the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers, are the third WHL entry out of Edmonton with the Oil Kings' label. The original Oil Kings were one of seven teams to join the Western Canada Hockey League in 1966 and remained in Edmonton until the summer of '76 when owners Brian Shaw and Ken Hodge moved the franchise to Portland Oregon, becoming the Winter Hawks.

Two years later, the Flin Flon Bombers relocated to Edmonton, borrowed the name Oil Kings and remained there for the '78-79 season, finishing the season with a dismal 17-43-12 record.

Entering weekend play, the Wheat Kings meanwhile sit third in the Eastern Division and sixth in the Conference with an 11-7-0-1 record. Winners of two straight games at home, Brandon currently trails second place Swift Current by two points and the front running Regina Pats by three. Regina will travel to Brandon to play the Wheat Kings at 2:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

Former Medicine Hat Tiger Matt Lowry begins the weekend riding a 6-game point scoring streak and the 19-year old Neepawa product has scored at least a point in sixteen of his last 17 games. Rookies Brayden Schenn (3-4-7) and Scott Glennie (3-2-5) have managed at least a point in four consecutive games.

Friday night's game is Team Poster Night at WCG Place, with the first 3,000 fans in attendance to receive a full color Wheat Kings' poster, courtesy of Heritage Co-op and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. In fact, Friday's game will represent MADD'S annual, national public awareness Project Red Ribbon campaign kickoff for sober driving through the holiday season.

The MADD Canada ribbon has become a familiar symbol of safe and sober driving throughout Canada and this annual campaign is one of the most visible public awareness drives against impaired driving during the festive season.

Tickets to both weekend games are on sale now at the Keystone box office, by calling 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca.

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Western Hockey League Stories from November 8, 2007


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