THE INSIDER: Team WHL Selections
The Insider is a weekly look at what’s going on with the Oil Kings by TSN 1260’s Corey Graham. This week, Corey discusses selections for the CHL Canada Russia Series and the Oil Kings’ scoring struggles.
We’re 11 games into the Edmonton Oil Kings season, and clearly things have not gone according to plan for the Oil Kings. With just three victories on the year and riding a five-game losing skid, this team isn’t where I saw them sitting as we near the end of October. Fortunately it’s still early, but there is a lot of room for improvement.
The main issue continues to be the lack of offence. I still believe this team is deeper than they were last year, but that has yet to come to fruition this season. Let me start with the positives: Lane Bauer and Brett Pollock have produced at a point-per-game rate. Bauer especially has taken a beating this season. It feels like every game so far he has been slow to get up after blocking a shot or battling for a loose puck. He has really developed into a 200-foot player at this level and has grown into the top line centre role.
Pollock has parlayed his strong start (three goals, eight assists and a six-game point streak in 11 games) into a spot on Team WHL at the upcoming CHL Canada Russia Series. The annual event that crosses the CHL pits the league’s best against a Russian select team. Pollock and Team WHL open the series on Nov. 9 in Kelowna. Victoria Royals head coach Dave Lowry will be behind the bench for Team WHL, and he is also the head coach of Canada’s entry at the upcoming World Junior Championship. It is not out of the realm of possibilities that if Pollock has a strong showing, he can earn himself an invite to Canada’s selection camp in December.
Sticking with the Super Series, I’m surprised that Dysin Mayo’s name isn’t on that roster. Mayo is always seemingly overlooked for these showcase events – he was not selected for the CHL Top Prospect Game in his draft year, either, and didn’t get an invite to the World Junior camp this summer despite putting up 51 points last year — and I don’t understand why. I know I’m biased, having watched his entire junior career up close, but he just continues to log huge minutes, put up points and go about his business. I was shocked he was left off the list. In my opinion, Mayo deserves to be there.
Back to the team’s scoring woes. It has been four straight games now that the Oil Kings have only mustered two goals, and they have two or less in six of the 11 games this year. The team has yet to score more than three goals during play in any game this season, with the only four-spots they have put up being back-to-back 4-3 shootout wins over Moose Jaw and Brandon. One stat that jumps out to me in the lack of production from the blueline. Aaron Irving is the lone defenceman to find the back of the net so far, with just one power play goal. Last year Ben Carroll and Dysin Mayo combined for 23 goals, and the D corps as a whole chipped in 49. Last game, it was noticeable how active the D were jumping into lanes in the offensive zone and shooting the puck quickly from the line. You have to think I’s a matter of time before something gives and pucks find their way into the net.
One thing that can’t be overlooked is the injury to Davis Koch. The second-year Oil King was really beginning to find his stride from last year before blocking a shot in Brandon and landing on the injury list with an upper-body injury. A gifted offensive player, Koch, recorded 25 points in his rookie year, 21 of them after the Christmas break. He had been playing on the top line and his vision and playmaking abilities are evident.
This weekend the club continues their five-game home stand against the upstart Lethbridge Hurricanes. The ‘Canes have hit the ground running this season and have shown they are a much improved group after a few down years. New head coach Brent Kisio has his team going, led by Brayden Burke and Tyler Wong, who have 18 and 16 points respectively. Of course a visit from Lethbridge means another challenge in the form of goaltender Stuart Skinner. The Edmonton product loves playing in his hometown: last year he made 135 saves in three appearances in Edmonton, posting two wins and being named a game star each occasion. He seems to be a goaltender that gets better as he faces more shots, and builds his confidence during the game. It’s imperative the Oil Kings get off to a better start and try to get to him early, or it could be a real challenge trying to come back against a goalie of his caliber.
Corey Graham has been the play-by-play broadcaster for the Oil Kings since 2010-11 and has broadcast three WHL championship series and two Memorial Cups. His blog, The Insider, will appear every Thursday at noon on oilkings.ca. You can catch every Oil Kings game home and away with Corey on TSN 1260.
