Oil Kings forward Dean named Sandman WHL Rookie of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Edmonton Oil Kings forward Dylan Dean has been named Sandman WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending Sunday, November 2, 2025.
Dean, a 17-year-old product of Maple Grove, Minn., recorded six points (4G-2A) in three games as the Oil Kings went 3-0-0-0 this past week. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, Dean was named to NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch List on October 20, given a ‘W’ rating for players projected to be sixth- or seventh-round picks.
The 6-foot-1, 179-pound centre started his week with a three-point (2G-1A) effort Wednesday, October 29, as the Oil Kings shut down the Lethbridge Hurricanes by an 8-6 margin. Dean logged his lone assist of the evening on a first-period goal by Poul Andersen, helping Edmonton to a 4-3 lead. The first-year forward tallied back-to-back goals 6:18 apart in the second period, pushing the Oil Kings in front by a 7-3 spread. Dean’s second goal of the night went on to stand as the eventual game-winner in the high-scoring affair, and he was named third star of the game.
Dean started November on the right foot, collecting a power-play goal Saturday, November 1, in a 6-1 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers. Dean’s goal came 1:21 into the third period and gave the Oil Kings a comfortable 4-0 lead that never came into question.
The Minnesota native kept rolling Sunday, November 2, chipping in with another two points (1G-1A) as the Oil Kings doubled up the Swift Current Broncos by a score of 8-4 at Rogers Place in Edmonton. After falling behind 4-1 in the first period, Dean set up Colorado Avalanche prospect Max Curran 6:46 into the second period to make it a 4-3 game. Once again taking advantage of a power-play opportunity, Dean then found the back of the net 3:09 into the third period, putting Edmonton in front 5-4. That tally went on to stand as the game-winning goal – Dean’s second of the week.
Dean signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Oil Kings on June 30. He spent the 2024-25 season with the Long Island Gulls 16U AAA program.
Through 16 games to start his WHL career, Dean has secured 13 points (8G-5A) and a plus-6 rating, good enough to lead all Oil Kings rookies.
Coming out of the weekend, the Oil Kings (12-4-1-1) sit atop the WHL’s Eastern Conference and Central Division.
Next up, Dean and the Oil Kings host the Red Deer Rebels (5-9-0-2) Wednesday, November 5 (7 p.m. MT) at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Sandman WHL Rookie of the Week
September 22, 2025: JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers
September 29, 2025: Chase Surkan, Brandon Wheat Kings
October 6, 2025: Jacob Kvasnicka, Penticton Vees
October 14, 2025: Carter Casey, Medicine Hat Tigers
October 20, 2025: Andrei Molgachev, Calgary Hitmen
October 27, 2025: Chase Surkan, Brandon Wheat Kings
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 23 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.
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