Sawchyn Looking to Build Off Strong Personal and Collective Finish to 2023/2024

Sawchyn Looking to Build Off Strong Personal and Collective Finish to 2023/2024

Edmonton, Alta. – The Edmonton Oil Kings finished off the 2023/2024 season quite strong, including winning five of their last eight games, and going 11-5-1-0 in their last 17 games.

One big reason for the second-half resurgence was 2005-born forward Gracyn Sawchyn who was acquired from Seattle on December 27, 2023. From that point to the end of the season, Sawchyn ultimately was third on the team in scoring with 43 points and led the team in assists with 30 over that stretch in 37 games.

Now in his first training camp with the Oil Kings, the Florida Panthers prospect is much more comfortable with the club.

“It makes it a lot easier,” Sawchyn said. “More familiar with everyone and just kind of the systems we want for the future of the season.”

As Sawchyn heads into his 19-year-old season, he is looking not only to the future of hoping to make the NHL, but what the team needs now as well. He said a big goal over the off-season was to get bigger and stronger in the gym. While Sawchyn wants to get better on the ice, he’s also looking to become more of a leader now and moving forward in his career.

Guys are coming in with different roles,” he said. “Some young guys from last year are now older guys, and just to see kind of the future of the Oil Kings get up there, just show them the ropes and help them out, it’s good.”

Sawchyn is now a veteran of over 120 regular season and playoff WHL games and is over a point-per-game player during his career and has a WHL Championship under his belt from 2023.

Camp continues Friday and Saturday, with the Bob McGill Cup taking place on Sunday at 11 a.m. at the Downtown Community Arena.