PREVIEW: Oil Kings @ Red Deer Rebels 09.22.23
EDMONTON OIL KINGS (0-0-0-0) @ RED DEER REBELS (0-0-0-0) – September 22, 2023 – Peavey Mart Centrium – 7:00 PM
MATCHUP NOTES
Tonight marks the first of 10 meetings this season between the Oil Kings and Rebels. Last season, the Rebels swept the nine-game series against the Oil Kings.
All-time, the Oil Kings and Rebels have met 109 times during the regular season with the Oil Kings holding a record of 54-41-7-7.
This is the 10th time the Oil Kings season opener has come against the Rebels and they hold a 4-4-1-0 record in the previous nine. Tonight’s game also marks the sixth time the Oil Kings season opener has been in Red Deer at the Centrium where they hold a 2-2-1-0 record in the previous five.
Last season, the Rebels were crowned the Central Division Champions after posting a record of 43-19-3-3 during the regular season. In the post-season, they would advance as far as the second round where they lost in seven games to the Saskatoon Blades
WHO WE’RE WATCHING
#43 Adam Jecho
Oil Kings rookie forward Adam Jecho makes his WHL debut tonight and is coming off an impressive pre-season that saw him lead the Club in scoring with four points (3G, 1A) in three games. The 6-foot-5, 201-pound forward came to the Oil Kings this off-season after being selected with the third-overall pick at the 2023 CHL Import Draft. Last season, Zlin, Czechia product played U18 hockey in Finland with Tappara Tampere finishing second on his team in scoring with 47 points (21G, 26A) in just 37 games. He has represented his country on a handful of occasions including three times at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup (2021, 2022, 2023) winning a bronze medal in 2023 after serving as an alternate captain and scoring two goals in five games. He also suited up for Czechia at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship. He is considered a top prospect by several publications for the 2024 NHL Draft.
LAST GAME
Regular Season: The Edmonton Oil Kings finished their 2022-23 season on the right foot as they secured a victory over the Calgary Hitmen at the Scotiabank Saddledome on the final day of the regular season thanks to a pair of graduating forwards in Loick Daigle and Noah Boyko combining to score the game-winning goal in the final minute, while goaltender Logan Cunningham was sensational making 32 saves.
Pre-Season: The Oil Kings went 2-2-0-0 during the 2023 WHL Pre-Season, with all four games decided by a one-goal margin.
MILESTONE WATCH
- D Carter Kowalyk is 3 games away from 100 career games.
- F Ty Nash is 3 goals away from 50 career goals.
LINEUP REPORT
- F Ty Nash, upper-body, week-to-week (Games missed: 0).
- F Gavin Hodnett, upper-body, week-to-week (Games missed: 0).
- F Treycen Wuttunee, upper-body, day-to-day (Games missed: 0).
- D Vojtech Port, attending Anaheim Ducks training camp (Games missed: 0).
- F Nathan Pilling, attending Calgary Flames training camp (Games missed: 0).
STREAKS
- F Mason Finley is on a 4-game point streak (4G-2A-6PTS).*
*Dating back to last regular season
WHO’S HOT
- F Gavin Hodnett has 25 points (7G, 18A) in his last 33 games and 38 points (12G, 26A) in his last 46 games.*
- D Jacob Hoffrogge has 12 points (0G, 12A) in his last 20 games.*
- F Rilen Kovacevic has 7 points (3G, 4A) in his last 10 games and 12 points (5G, 7A) in his last 17 games.*
- F Mason Finley has 10 points (5G, 5A) in his last 9 games.*
- F Cole Miller has 6 points (3G, 3A) in his last 7 games.*
- F Ty Nash has 4 points (2G, 2A) in his last 6 games.*
*Dating back to last regular season
LEAGUE LEADERS (Last Season)
- F Gavin Hodnett finished 8th in the WHL rookie scoring race (43pts) and was the 4th highest scoring 2006-born player.
- G Kolby Hay finished 2nd in in the WHL in shots faced (1,679) and 2nd in saves made (1,465).
- Edmonton Oil Kings finished 1st in WHL attendance (6,501 avg.).
