2026 WHL Graduates: Edmonton Oil Kings

Miroslav Holinka (F)

Hometown: Zlín, Czechia
WHL Career Stats: 106 GP – 56 G-69 A – 125 points
NHL Draft: 2024 – Fifth Round, 151st Overall (Toronto Maple Leafs)
CHL Import Draft: 2024 – First Round, 14th Overall (Edmonton Oil Kings)

Originally selected 14th overall by the Edmonton Oil Kings in the 2024 CHL Import Draft, Czechia-born forward Miroslav Holinka wasted little time making his mark in North America.

His selection by the Oil Kings marked the second time the sharpshooter found himself on the draft board, as he heard his name called by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Draft in June.

Holinka made his Western Hockey League debut on September 28, 2024, against the Calgary Hitmen, scoring a goal and adding an assist in his first appearance with the Oil Kings. He went on to finish his rookie campaign with an impressive 45 points (19 G-26 A) in 47 games. The product of Zlin, Czechia and his 45-point rookie season had him tied for seventh in first-year scoring – alongside now-Anaheim Ducks prospect Mathis Preston and San Jose Sharks prospect Keaton Verhoeff.

His rookie campaign also turned heads at the NHL level, as the ‘Buds’ inked Holinka to a three-year, entry-level contract on June 15, 2025.

Holinka also represented Czechia at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, helping his home country capture a bronze medal with four points in seven games.

His second season in Edmonton brought another step forward.

Holinka led the Oil Kings with 37 goals during the 2025-26 regular season while finishing second on the Club with a career-high 80 points (37 G-43 A) in 59 appearances. His 37 goals ranked 11th in the WHL, while his 80 points placed him among the League’s top 15 scorers.

His breakout campaign was recognized with a spot on the WHL Eastern Conference Second All-Star Team.

Holinka closes out his WHL career with 125 points (56 G-69 A) in 106 regular season games, adding 11 points in 14 career playoff appearances.

Carter Sotheran (D)

Hometown: Sanford, Man.
WHL Career Stats: 267 GP – 42 G-126 A – 168 points
WHL Draft: 2020 – Fifth Round, 97th Overall (Portland Winterhawks)

Originally selected with the 97th-overall selection by the Portland Winterhawks at the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Carter Sotheran spent parts of four seasons developing into one of the Western League’s more productive blueliners.

The Sanford, Man., product made his WHL debut on September 23, 2022, against the Kamloops Blazers. Sotheran would then collect his first career point and multi-point outing in his second twirl, recording three assists against the Kelowna Rockets.

Sotheran continued to grow his game over the next several seasons, becoming an important part of two deep playoff runs with the Winterhawks. He recorded 11 points (4 G-7 A) in 14 appearances during the 2024 WHL Playoffs as Portland advanced to the 2024 WHL Championship Series, before adding 15 points (6 G-9 A) in 18 games the following spring as the Winterhawks once again reached the 2025 Western Conference Championship Series.

On January 6, 2026, the veteran blueliner was acquired by the Edmonton Oil Kings, as the Central Division club geared up for another deep run in the WHL Playoffs. At the time of the trade, he had already recorded 37 points in 37 games with Portland.

Sotheran continued to produce after arriving in Edmonton, collecting 35 points in just 30 regular season appearances with the Oil Kings. Combined with his production in Portland, he finished the campaign with 72 points (19 G-53 A) in 67 games, establishing career highs in goals, assists and points.

Sotheran added six assists in seven games during the 2026 WHL Playoffs, bringing his career postseason totals to 33 points in 48 appearances.

Austin Zemlak (D)

Hometown: Fort McMurray, Alta.
WHL Career Stats: 234 GP – 17 G-50 A – 67 points
WHL Draft: 2020 – First Round, Ninth Overall (Victoria Royals)

Selected ninth overall by the Victoria Royals in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Austin Zemlak made his WHL debut on May 3, 2021, against the Kamloops Blazers.

Zemlak joined Victoria full-time the following season and went on to spend parts of four seasons with the Royals, appearing in 147 games.

On August 15, 2024, Zemlak was acquired by the Tri-City Americans, putting together a productive 2024-25 campaign. The defenceman recorded 25 points in 56 games in his first – and only – season with the Ams. His 25 points and 20 helpers went down as career highs for the Fort McMurray, Atlantic., local.

For his 20-year-old season, Zemlak found himself headed to Edmonton’s ‘Kingdom’ following a brief stint with the NCAA’s Arizona State University.

Zemlak appeared in 31 regular season games with Edmonton, recording nine points (2 G-7 A) and a plus-10 rating. He added an assist in seven appearances during the 2026 WHL Playoffs.

In total, Zemlak closes out his WHL career having appeared in 234 regular season games, recording 67 points (17 G-50 A). He also collected one assist in 12 career postseason appearances.