Oil Kings Welcome 2016 First Round Draft Picks
Monday morning brought about some big changes in a couple of local 15-year-olds lives. The Edmonton Oil Kings two first round picks in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft were introduced today by General Manager, Randy Hansch and Head Coach, Steve Hamilton.
Matthew Robertson, drafted 7th overall, and Liam Keeler, drafted 22nd overall, were all smiles when presented with their red Oil Kings jerseys.
“I grew up watching the Oil Kings,” said Robertson. “It was always a dream to get drafted and to be drafted by them was surreal.”
Keeler echoed his newest teammate’s thoughts. “It’s definitely very exciting to know that the team wanted you and were willing to trade up to get you.”
The 6’1, 171-pound Robertson appeared in 32 games this past season with the Sherwood Park Flyers where he had 27 points (7G, 20A). He also scored three times and added an assist in seven playoff games.
“I started the year with an injury,” said Robertson. “It took a little bit of confidence to get back and be my usual self out there.”
Liam Keeler, a 6’0, 166-pound forward from the Edmonton Southside Athletic Club had 77 points (26G, 51A) in 34 games this past season. But he prides himself on being a sound two-way player as well.
“I think I am a fast, skilled forward who can put up points offensively, but also a guy who can shut down the other team’s best players defensively and play 200 feet well.”
Hansch was quite praising of the two newest Oil Kings and looks forward to watching them develop into mainstays for the club in the future.
“I think with Matthew he is today’s type of defenceman. He has the ability to skate very well, skate the puck up ice and get it out of trouble. He has a really good first pass. He is something we are trying to build around; get that up-tempo game. Liam does everything at high speed but plays a very responsible two-way game. When we were able to acquire both players we were very pleased that it presented itself.”
The fact that both kids were local products; Robertson from Sherwood Park and Keeler from Edmonton was an added bonus explained Hansch.
“At that place in the draft you are going to take the best player. So if it is local, it is a bonus. For one, they’re familiar with the program and the organization and two, we are probably more familiar with them.”
Management, coaches and fans will likely become quite familiar with them as well in the future. Next season they will continue to develop and work on their game at the Midget AAA level before eventually making the jump to the junior ranks. But for now the two kids will savior the moments of being drafted and presented as Oil Kings.
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