Oil Kings forward Sawchyn named Tempo WHL Player of the Week

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Edmonton Oil Kings forward Lukas Sawchyn has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending Sunday, January 4.

Sawchyn, an 18-year-old product of Grande Prairie, Alta., registered eight points (2G-6A) in three games, helping the Oil Kings go 3-0-0-0 this past week.

The 5-foot-10, 174-pound right winger started the week with a three-point performance (1G-2A) Tuesday, December 30, as the Oil Kings skated to a decisive 7-1 road triumph over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The second-year forward opened the scoring with 2:53 to go in the first period, before then setting up Josh Lee for the eventual game-winning goal midway through the second period. Sawchyn wrapped up the night with a primary assist on Miroslav Holinka’s 21st goal of the season midway through the third period. The three-point effort earned Sawchyn first star honours.

Sawchyn started the new year on the right foot, logging two assists Thursday, January 1, as the Oil Kings defeated the Red Deer Rebels by a 5-1 score on home ice. Once again, Sawchyn was the catalyst on the game-winning goal, this time providing the primary helper on a goal by Gavin Hodnett midway through the first period. Sawchyn grabbed another primary assist on a second period goal by Cage Smith and was named third star of the game.

Wrapping up the week Sunday, January 4, Sawchyn collected his second three-point outing (1G-2A) as the Oil Kings knocked off the Seattle Thunderbirds by a 5-3 tally. The star forward made an impact across every phase of the game, registering a power-play assist on a first period goal by Holinka, before adding a shorthanded helper on another Holinka goal later in the period. Early in the second period, Sawchyn found the back of the net at even strength for his 17th goal of the season, giving Edmonton a 4-1 lead. That strike went on to stand as the eventual game-winning goal and Sawchyn was named the first star of the game.

With 50 points (17G-33A) in 37 games, Sawchyn ranks second on the Oil Kings in scoring this season.

Originally selected by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2022 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, Sawchyn has recorded 105 points (32G-73A) in 103 career WHL regular season games.

With a record of 26-7-3-1, the Oil Kings are 7-1-2-0 over their previous 10 outings and rank third in the WHL’s Eastern Conference. Sawchyn and the Oil Kings return to action Wednesday, January 7 (6 p.m. MT), when they visit the Swift Current Broncos (9-26-2-0).

Tempo WHL Player of the Week

September 22, 2025: Ethan Semeniuk, Moose Jaw Warriors
September 29, 2025: JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers
October 6, 2025: Matias Vanhanen, Everett Silvertips
October 14, 2025: Noah Kosick, Swift Current Broncos
October 20, 2025: Kooper Gizowski, Prince George Cougars
October 27, 2025: Caden Brown, Regina Pats
November 3, 2025: Max Curran, Edmonton Oil Kings
November 10, 2025: Luke Mistelbacher, Brandon Wheat Kings
November 17, 2025: Liam Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers
November 24, 2025: JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers
December 1, 2025: Tarin Smith, Everett Silvertips
December 8, 2025: Bryce Pickford, Medicine Hat Tigers
December 15, 2025: Joby Baumuller, Brandon Wheat Kings
December 22, 2025: Mathis Preston, Spokane Chiefs
December 29, 2025: Jonas Woo, Medicine Hat Tigers

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.