Preview: Oil Kings vs Wenatchee Wild 2.25.24
February 25, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release
EDMONTON OIL KINGS (19-33-2-1) vs. WENATCHEE WILD (30-23-4-0) -
FEBRUARY 25, 2024 - ROGERS PLACE - 4:00 PM
2023-24 Schedule vs. Wenatchee Wild
Sunday, Feb 25 @ Edmonton
Matchup Notes
Tonight marks the first ever meeting of the Wenatchee Wild and the Edmonton Oil Kings. Wenatchee relocated from Winnipeg at the conclusion of the 2022/23 Western Hockey League season.
Prior to their four seasons as the Winnipeg Ice the franchise was located in Cranbrook, BC as the Kootenay Ice.
All-time, the Oil Kings and the Wild franchise have met 84 times in the regular season with the Oil Kings holding a record of 46-29-4-5.
Coming In
The Oil Kings have won 4 of their last 5 games, and are coming off of a 2-1 win in Lethbridge on Friday night.
Edmonton jumped out to a 2-0 lead through the opening 20 minutes, outshooting the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference 12-5 after the opening frame. Defenseman Matt Gallant opened the scoring after Oil King Forward Ty Nash broke in on the right wing, and fed the trailing #8 on a tee and he ripped a clapper off the post and in for his first goal as an Edmonton Oil King.
Moments later, #13 ranked NHL Central Scouting Forward Adam Jecho carried the puck in over the Hurricanes blue line and made a nifty toe-drag move before zipping a wrist shot from the high slot off of the crossbar and in.
Lethbridge answered back before the second period was a minute old, as Anaheim Ducks draft pick Sean Tschigerl one timed a shot from the hash-marks past Edmonton Goalie Kolby Hay to make it 2-1. The Hurricanes dominated the shots in the final 40 minutes, 27-5 but could not solve the Monte Creek, BC native. Hay was named the game's first star, turning aside 31 of 32 shots.
EOK Notables
 This was the first time the Oil Kings scored 2 goals and won in the 2023/24 season.
 This was the first time the Oil Kings produced less than 20 shots in a game and won during the 2023/24 season.
 Oil Kings Forward Ty Nash surpassed the career 150 point marker with a pair of assists on Friday night.
 Oil Kings defenceman Marc Lajoie sits 11th in defenceman points (44), 2nd in defenceman goals (19), 1st in defenceman PP goals (11) and tied for 4th in defenceman PP points (24) in the WHL. His 11 power play goals rank tied for 5th overall in the entire WHL amongst all skaters.
 Oil Kings defenceman Marc Lajoie is in for 5th for the most career power play goals by an Oil Kings defenceman in franchise history with 11 trailing only Griffin Reinhart (12), Cody Corbett (12), Aaron Irving (13) and Conner McDonald (14).
 Oil Kings forward Adam Jecho is 13th in WHL rookie scoring with 34 points (17G, 17A) in just 42 games.
 The Oil Kings lead the WHL in attendance (6,662 avg.).
WILD Notables
 Wild Defenseman Graham Sward sits 8th in the Western Hockey League with 24 powerplay assists, and is 7th in the league amongst leaders in plus/minus at plus 34.
 Wild Forward Kenta Isogai sits 15th in the Western Hockey League in scoring with 25 goals and 74 points through 52 games played.
 Wild Forward Miles Cooper sits 9th overall in rookie scoring with 13 goals and 38 points through 52 games played.
 Wild Goalie Brendan Gee is 2nd in the Western Hockey League with 3 shootout wins, and has a perfect 7 saves through the 7 attempts he's faced in a shootout.
Milestone Watch
 F Ty Nash is 6 games away from 250 career WHL games.
 F Ty Nash is 13 assists away from 100 career WHL assists.
 D Marc Lajoie is 8 assists away from 100 career WHL assists.
 F Skylar Bruce is 3 goals away from 50 career WHL goals.
Lineup Report
 D Ethan MacKenzie, upper-body, week-to-week (Games missed: 37).
 F Presley Kerner, lower-body, week-to-week (Games missed: 6)
 F John Szabo, upper-body, day-to-day (Games missed 5)
 F Skyler Bruce, lower-body, day-to-day (Games missed: 5)
 F Andrej Tomasec, day-to-day (Games missed: 2)
Streaks
 F Ty Nash is on a 4-game point streak (2g-5a-7pts).
Who's Hot
 F Marshall Finnie has 5 points (3G, 2A) in his last 5 games.
 F Ty Nash has 16 points (4G, 12A) in his last 16 games.
 D Blake Fiddler has 5 points (1G, 4A) in his last 5 games.
 F Gracyn Sawchyn has 13 points (4G, 9A) in his last 13 games.
 F Gavin Hodnett has 10 points (3G, 7A) in his last 8 games.
• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board...
Western Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2024
- Hurricanes Spank Hitmen, 9-2 - Calgary Hitmen
- Preview: Oil Kings vs Wenatchee Wild 2.25.24 - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Americans Score 5-3 Victory over Regina - Tri-City Americans
- CHL Daily: Firkus and Heidt Reach 100 Points - Prince George Cougars
- Cougars Secure BC Division Crown in Shootout - Kelowna Rockets
- Warriors Score Season-High In Dominating Win Over Chiefs - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Chiefs Split Parents Weekend, Going 1-1 Across Two Games - Spokane Chiefs
- Schmidt Nets 1st WHL Hat-Trick in 7-1 Win Over Blazers - Vancouver Giants
- Cougars Secure BC Division Crown in Thrilling Shootout Win Over Kelowna - Prince George Cougars
- Joudrey Scores Again, Isogai's Third Period Marker Pushes Wild to 3-2 Win Saturday - Wenatchee Wild
- Nine Different Pats Get on Scoresheet in 5-3 Loss at Tri-City - Regina Pats
- Hvidston's Overtime Winner Leads Broncos Over Tigers - Swift Current Broncos
- Hawks Go Back-To-Back in Victoria with 5-2 Win on Saturday - Portland Winterhawks
- Tigers Pick Up A Point In Overtime Loss To Broncos - Medicine Hat Tigers
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.
