Sports stats



WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Preview: Oil Kings vs. Seattle Thunderbirds

October 22, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Tonight marks the first and only meeting this season between the Oil Kings and Thunderbirds.

This is the first visit by the Thunderbirds to Rogers Place since the 2022 WHL Championship Series in which the Oil Kings won in six games.

Last season, the Thunderbirds got to the WHL Championship Series again and this time were victorious defeating the Winnipeg ICE in five games to claim their second Ed Chynoweth Cup in franchise history.

All-time, the Oil Kings and Thunderbirds have met 14 times during the regular season with each team picking up seven wins.

Coming In

The Oil Kings are looking to snap out of six-game losing streak after being shutout for the second time in three games on Tuesday, falling 4-0 to the Red Deer Rebels at Rogers Place.

Looking to spark some offence, the Oil Kings made a move ahead of this weekend to acquire veteran forward Skyler Bruce from the Vancouver Giants on Friday for overage defenceman Wyatt Wilson, who the Oil Kings had claimed off WHL waivers from the Wenatchee Wild earlier that same day.

The T-Birds come in riding a four-game win streak and a perfect 3-0-0-0 road record. Seattle's last two wins were both of the thrilling variety as on Friday in Calgary they secured a 3-2 overtime win at the Saddledome after getting a late tying goal from Antonio Martorana and the OT GWG from Jeremy Hanzel. Prior to that game, the Thunderbirds erased a 4-2 deficit against the Brandon Wheat Kings on Tuesday with only 1:04 left in regulation after Luca Hauf (x2), Braeden Cootes and Simon Lovsin all found the back of the net in a 60-second span to steal a 6-4 win.

Milestone Watch

D Carter Kowalyk is 2 games away from 100 career games.

F John Szabo is 4 games away from 100 career games.

F Nathan Pilling is 7 games away from 100 career games.

F Ty Nash is 3 goals away from 50 career goals.

F Skyler Bruce is 4 points away from 100 career points.

Lineup Report

F Ty Nash, upper-body, week-to-week (Games missed: 11).

D Carter Kowalyk, upper-body, month-to-month (Games missed: 10).

F Nathan Pilling, upper-body, day-to-day (Games missed: 4).

F Aidan Litke, upper-body, season ending (Games missed: 1).

F John Szabo, lower-body, TBD (Games missed: 0).

D Reid Larson, suspension, four games (Games served: 0).

Streaks

F Skyler Bruce is on a 2-game point streak (1G-1A-2PTS).

Who's Hot

F Rilen Kovacevic has 14 points (8G, 6A) in his last 21 games and 19 points (10G, 9A) in his last 28 games.*

F Marshall Finnie has 8 points (5G, 3A) in his last 12 games.*

F Adam Jecho has 10 points (5G, 5A) in his last 11 games.

F Skyler Bruce has 9 points (4G, 5A) in his last 10 games.*

F Aidan Litke has 11 points (4G, 7A) in his last 9 games.

F Ty Nash has 4 points (2G, 2A) in his last 6 games.*

*Dating back to last regular season

League Leaders

F Adam Jecho currently sits T5th in WHL rookie points (10) and T4th in WHL rookie goals (5).

D Parker Alcos currently sits 2nd in WHL rookie defencemen points (4).

Sunday, Oct 22 @ Edmonton

All-Time vs. Seattle:

7-7-0-0 Home: 5-2-0-0 Away: 2-5-0-0

PP: 11/54 (20.4%) PK: 14/64 (78.1%)

Check out the Edmonton Oil Kings Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from October 22, 2023


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.

OurSports Central