In the world of the Western Hockey League some massive off ice news, which by every source that has mentioned it has stated that it is all but official. Expansion is coming to the league via the top team from the BCHL moving over to "the dub" in the Penticton Vees for the 2025-26 season. The Vees will be the first new team to join the WHL since your Edmonton Oil Kings.
Now let's talk about Oil Kings who finished their four games in six nights stretch with the expected 3-1 record although not many would have predicted that loss coming last Friday in Red Deer.
A hearty welcome back to Gracyn Sawchyn playing his first games since January 17th. Gracyn collected an assist in his first game back and two goals plus 8 penalty minutes in a feisty showing on Family Day.
News was not all good on the injury front though as Miroslav Holinka missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury. The team also lost the services of defenceman Ethan MacKenzie mid-way through the Hurricanes game on Saturday after he took a stiff shot during his scrap.
The Club stayed true to a goalie rotation that gave rookie Ethan Simcoe the game against the highest rated of their opponents the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Will the team stay with the rotation and give Simcoe the upcoming Friday game in Medicine Hat and Alex Worthington the home rematch versus the Tigers on Sunday? With just over a month left in the regular season, it will be fascinating to watch which goaltender earns the playoff nod.
Needing more than the eye of the tiger!
The weekend ahead features a home-and-home against the Eastern Conference leading Medicine Hat Tigers. These will be the final two meetings of the regular season between the two Clubs with the series tied at three wins each. The Tigers are fighting to stay atop the conference while the Oil Kings are beginning to see a home playoff start slip away as they fight for playoff positioning.
The Tigers lead the WHL in goals scored. The Oil Kings allow the 5th fewest goals in the league. The Tigers feature the 4th best powerplay, the Oil Kings feature the best penalty killing unit. Punch, counter punch.
Can the Oil Kings rise to the occasion and win both games? Doing so would be a huge help to our rivals from Calgary who are 5 points behind Medicine Hat with three games in hand. Are the Tigers a better first round opponent for the Oil Kings than the Hitmen (1W-5L)? While the likely outcome to this 2-game set is a split, a sweep for either team spells hardship for the loser in a crazy tight Eastern Conference.
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