September 29, 2023 by Spencer Pomoty

The Edmonton Oil Kings fell to the Red Deer Rebels 4-3 in their home-opener on Saturday. However, the Oil Kings’ won their season-opening game against the Rebels on Friday by an almost identical score of 4-2. Edmonton showed they could keep up with Red Deer for most parts of both games, but the Rebels will be getting stronger with the additions of Kalan Lind (Nashville Predators’ 46th overall, 2023) and ultimately Mats Lindgren (Buffalo Sabres’ 106th overall, 2022).

There were a handful of times where Edmonton struggled against the pressure Red Deer was putting on them, this resulted in a good number of dump-outs and unconnected passes. Another struggle was the power-play for Edmonton, they ended up going one-for-eight on the weekend, but my concern was the personnel usage. The Oil Kings ran a two-defenceman set-up on Saturday with Hoffrogge as the quarterback and Lajoie in front off the net. Lajoie is an excellent WHL defenceman, but the puck struggled to move around. More player movement will be needed in the future. The powerplay is something I will have my eye on for Edmonton’s next home game.

Marshall Finnie was the star of the weekend for the Oil Kings, scoring three goals in the two games against Red Deer. He was going head-to-head with Red Deer first line centerman Kai Uchaz. The two provided some great extra entertainment as they were constantly talking (not in a nice way!) to one another and got into it after almost every whistle. The second year right shot center will have to play a massive role for Edmonton as he and Adam Jecho are the teams top two centers. Kolby Hay put on a massive performance in the opening game as he stopped 36 of 38 shots for the win, he’s the clear number one for this time and the Oil Kings are hoping to get that all year. There were two NHL draft eligible players I had my eye on and that was Adam Jecho of the Oil Kings and Ollie Josephson of the Rebels.

The massive right shot centre, Jecho had a better first game than home opener this past weekend and that’s all part of the process to warming up to WHL hockey. Adam can move extremely well for someone who stands at 6-foot-5, he’s got a great motor, but I found he was stuck late in shifts, and some ended up as goals in his net. The vision was very note worthy as well, he was noticing seams and making passes through them. What impressed me the most was his ability to make plays while his feet were moving, he’s not a big man that always wants to slow it down, he can make plays at pace.

Ollie Josephson had a wonderful opening weekend for himself. He is going to play a massive role if the Rebels want to have championship dreams. He was playing second line center during the weekend, but if Kalan Lind comes back, he may get moved around. Last year Lind played wing on Uchaz’s line for a good chunk of the season, I’m hoping they keep Ollie in the top six no matter what they do. The former fifth-overall pick WHL Bantam Drat finished the weekend with a goal and an assist. He was all over the puck providing constant support and pressuring the puck with his great skating ability. His goal was an excellent shot through the legs of Logan Cunningham in the second game of the home and home. Good first showing by the Red Deer centre.

The Oil Kings are welcoming the Lethbridge Hurricanes this weekend with back-to-back games at Rogers Place on Friday and Saturday. The Hurricanes won their first two games against the Swift Current Broncos and have a goal differential of plus five already. NHL draft eligible Miguel Marques will be on my radar as he as two assists in two games and had nine points in the pre-season.