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WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Sawchyn Delivers in Debut, Oil Kings Slay the Giants

December 29, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Langley, BC - The Edmonton Oil Kings picked up a third straight win on Friday night as they knocked off the Vancouver Giants 5-3 at the Langley Events Centre.

Another strong first period for the Oil Kings led to them taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission as well as outshooting the Giants 14-7.

The Oil Kings lone goal came with just under 30 seconds left in the frame and once again it was Ty Nash finding the back of the net fresh off scoring his first career WHL hat-trick on Wednesday.

On an Edmonton power play, Nash took a pass at the side of the Giants net and after no passing lanes opened for him, he stepped above the goal line and feathered the puck past the blocker of Matthew Hutchison for his ninth of the season.

In the second period, the Giants got a pair of early goals from Cameron Schmidt and Tyler Thorpe to take a 2-1 lead just 5:46 into the middle stanza.

The Oil Kings responded with a pair of their own just 30 seconds apart just before the midway mark of the period to regain control at 3-2.

Just as an Oil Kings power play expired, Marc Lajoie waded in just above the right circle and snapped a shot over the left-pad of Hutchison for his 11th of the season.

Matthew Gallant then collected his second goal of the season and first as an Oil King as Andrej Tomasec was able to dig a puck loose off an offensive zone faceoff and find him at the blueline where he snapped a shot through a crowd of bodies to the top shelf. The assists for Tomasec was his first career WHL point.

With just five minutes left in the period though, the Giants were able level the score after Aaron Obobaifo capitalized on a shot from the right-circle just as a Vancouver power play expired to send the teams to the second intermission tied at three.

In the third period, would take their third lead of the game and this one wouldn't get away from them as Gracyn Sawchyn notched his first goal as an Oil King at the 7:26 mark on the power play after taking a centering pass from Roan Woodward that he chipped past Hutchison.

Marshall Finnie collected his team-leading 12th goal of the season, and fourth in as many games, with 2:38 left in the game as he hit the empty net to seal the win.

Kolby Hay finished the night making 22 saves for his 10th win of the season, Hutchison finished with 27. Edmonton went 2-for-4 on the power play, Vancouver was 0-for-2.

Next up, the Oil Kings continue their road trip on tomorrow night when they battle the Victoria Royals at 7:00 P.M. MT. You can catch all the action on the Oil Kings Radio Network, iHeartRadio Canada.

The Edmonton Oil Kings next home game is Thursday, January 11 when they welcome the Tri-City Americans to Rogers Place at 7:00 P.M.

The Oil Kings are Edmonton's first choice for family fun with great seats starting at $20 and season seats for as low as $9 per-game for an entire season of thrilling WHL action!

Head to OilKings.ca to secure your seat today!

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 29, 2023


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