The WHL Preseason is completed and the Regular season is just around the corner. The Canadian Hockey League recently released their Top 10 Teams for the upcoming season, and had the Edmonton Oil Kings as the #6 ranked team overall, 2nd in the WHL behind only the Spokane Chiefs. The season starts this weekend with a home-and-home series against the Red Deer Rebels, and I’m here to bring you my breakdown of where the Oil Kings roster stands heading into the regular season opening weekend.
Graduates Marshall Finnie, Rylen Roersma, and Josh Mori are all headed off to University, and Cole Miller decided to also go the NCAA route. Roan Woodward was sent to the Victoria Royals in a July trade, and star forward Gracyn Sawchyn is highly unlikely to return for a final WHL season as he is already impressing at Florida Panthers rookie camp. Goaltender Alex Worthington signed a pro contract and is joining the Manitoba Moose in the AHL, and Kaenen Smith was selected by the Penticton Vees in the WHL Expansion Draft. Otherwise, the roster remains relatively intact with another year of experience and a playoff appearance under their belts. We have returning stars, highly touted rookies, fast-rising prospects, and some new additions joining the lineup this year, so let’s take a look at who will be wearing the crown this season.