For a moment, it looked like Penticton had finally cracked the code. Two goals in sixteen seconds late in the third turned what had been a comfortable 3–1 Oil Kings lead into a sudden overtime threat. The momentum swung hard in the Vees’ favor and it felt like the winning streak might finally be slipping. But this version of the Oil Kings has made a habit of doing whatever the situation demands. They steadied themselves again in overtime, trading chances in a frantic extra frame before Lukas Sawchyn curled behind the net and fed Blake Fiddler out front for the winner. Fiddler’s celebration felt like an encore performance, a fiddle concert to cap a night that nearly unraveled.
Sawchyn followed his hat trick in Vancouver by flipping three goals into three assists against Penticton, including that setup in overtime. Holinka and Jecho added two points each, and the answer to the trivia question of who scored the Oil Kings’ first-ever goal against Penticton now belongs to Poul Anderson, who found the fortunate bounce off an Ethan MacKenzie point shot. Parker Snell got the win and the Oil Kings pushed to 18-4-1-1 on the year.
Edmonton also saw the welcome return of Rhys Pederson, who looked steady in his first game back. Ethan Simcoe and Noa Ta’amu weren’t available, though neither appeared on the WHL injury report, so it seems more likely the result of a long trip than anything serious. With any luck, both will be back in the lineup tonight.
That next stop takes Edmonton across Okanagan Lake, hopefully without any Ogopogo sightings, for the second half of the back-to-back against the Kelowna Rockets. And with it comes a storyline years in the making. Tonight marks the first WHL meeting between the Iginla brothers. When Edmonton and Kelowna met last March, Tij was recovering from hip surgery and missed the game, leaving Joe to do what little brothers often do: annoy his sibling from afar. He peppered four shots toward Tij’s team, even if none found the scoresheet. Victory+ viewers should keep an eye out in the crowd—there’s a good chance Jarome Iginla will be in the building to watch his sons face each other for the first time at this level.
The Gojsic brothers add another layer of family competition. Kanjyu, newly acquired by Edmonton, played last season and the start of this one beside his older brother Hiroki in Kelowna. This will be his first WHL game against his brother, and his first against the team that moved him out just a week ago. There’s plenty of pride wrapped up in this one.
The Oil Kings have launched themselves to the top of the league during this streak, but the air is crowded up there. Several teams are within striking distance of knocking them from their perch. Kelowna has the firepower to spoil the run at nine straight. The question is whether these Rockets can stop Edmonton’s rocket in mid-flight.
On The Throne
Those players that are considered to be trending upwards, on a hot streak, or otherwise impressing will be seen as being On The Throne.
Miroslav Holinka - Credit must be given where credit is due, and Holinka has earned his credit recently. The big Maple Leafs prospect has 15 points so far in the month of November, and 16 points in his last 9 games overall. He has been an important piece of this team, and his grit matches his skill most nights. When he took the shot up high on Friday against Victoria, I feared the worst. He stayed down for a long time being evaluated by both Edmonton and Victoria trainers, but shockingly managed to get up and was helped off the ice on his own feet. A huge relief. Even more shockingly, he doesn’t even miss a game. He comes back the very next night with a goal and an assist against the Vancouver Giants (albeit both on the Empty Net, but it’s something that he’s out there defending while Vancouver is 6-on-5). He doubles up then last night with another goal and an assist against Penticton. I thought we might be without the Czech center for an extended period, but instead it just looks like that shot block fired him up.
Poul Anderson - We have not discussed the impact of the former Sherwood Park Crusader nearly enough this season. He has been consistent, and secured a permanent spot alongside Max Curran as the two have shown a lot of chemistry. Curran gets his praise for his point contributions, but Poul seems to be enjoying himself beside Max at this level. He has 9 goals and 12 points so far, and whenever the Oil Kings need a big goal it seems he is in the mix. Scoring streaks have not found him yet, as he has only twice scored in consecutive games, but when he does contribute it feels important. He did it again last night with the opening goal of the night and writing his name in the Oil Kings history books.
Blake Fiddler - The expectation bar was set high for Fiddler after his Kraken draft selection and his standout training camp, where he looked a step ahead of almost everyone. His production hasn’t exploded yet this season, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t contributing. His job is to defend first, and he’s handled that responsibility with consistency. He’s only finished as a minus four times this season, with his only real stumbles coming in two games versus Regina. Having Lee and MacKenzie stepping forward this season has helped, giving Fiddler space to work on the finer points of his game rather than forcing him into a role he isn’t meant to carry alone.
Off The Throne
Players that are struggling through a rough patch, on a cold streak, or possibly battling the puck at times will be viewed as being Off The Throne.
Noa Ta’amu - Ta’amu’s absence from the lineup was surprising, especially given that he wasn’t included on the WHL injury report. This was the first game he has missed all season. He’s been the one constant on the blue line while Alcos and Fiddler went to NHL camps, while Lee, Pederson, Tsakumis, and Gower rotated in and out. Only Ta’amu and MacKenzie stayed in every night, until now. His three assists don’t represent his impact; his value is in eliminating scoring chances, something he proved at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. If this was a healthy scratch and not just rest, it raises questions about what Jason Smith wants to see. There’s still a strong chance it was simply a night to recover, and he’ll be needed if Edmonton hopes to limit Tij Iginla tonight.
At the Gate
Who is the man standing between the pipes, the soldier standing between the opponent’s hopes and dreams? The man in the mask, and heavy padding, is the man At the Gate. This is our section where we will look at the starting goaltenders.
Snell returned to the crease and for 55 minutes looked poised for a near repeat of Friday’s effort, holding Penticton to a single goal and carrying a 3–1 lead late. Then came the familiar third-period issues that haunted him in October. After a late Niko Tsakumis penalty, Kelowna struck immediately and then again off the next faceoff, both beating Snell five-hole on defensive breakdowns that left Brittan Alstead untouched. Snell settled things down in the final minutes and made key saves to get the game to overtime, but these late lapses continue to be the hill both he and the defense have to climb.
Snell could get the chance to go on back-to-back nights as there is no update yet on the situation with Ethan Simcoe. Remember that last season Simcoe got the start against Kelowna, but was pulled after allowing 3 goals on 6 shots, and Snell came in to shut out the Rockets for the remainder of that game and record the W. Elias Mitrikas will likely see the bench again tonight in a backup role, as the status of Simcoe remains up-in-the-air.
The Roil Ledger
How well do the Oil Kings match up with their opponents? How have they fared against them in recent seasons? Is there a lot of red in that ledger, or have the results been more positive? We’ll take a look at recent history and notable stats between the two teams.
The Oil Kings and Rockets may not be frequent rivals, but there is some familiarity in their history. Coach Jason Smith was Head Coach of the Rockets for 3 seasons from 2016 to 2019. Kanjyu Gojsic is the most recent addition to the Oil Kings and played 69 games with the Rockets over the last 2 years. Joe Iginla has the obvious connection to his brother, but also grew up in nearby Lake Country, BC, and played his entire Prep hockey career in Kelowna. Max Curran leads the team in overall points against Kelowna, from his time with Tri-City, as he has 11 points in 7 games against the Rockets. This will be another game on the schedule between two teams who only meet once per year, but this one might have a more personal feeling than most on this trip.
Historically, this matchup has been dominated by the Kelowna Rockets as the Oil Kings are only 9-17-0-4 against them. The Oil Kings won the only game last season 6-3 in Edmonton, but have not won in Kelowna since a 1-0 shootout victory in 2019. Looking for a regulation win, Edmonton has not defeated the Rockets in regulation in Kelowna since 2012. These Rockets defend their home ice well and pose a serious threat to Edmonton.
The Threats Beyond the Wall
What awaits the Oil Kings on the other side of the ice? Who should they be keeping an eye on? How has the opponent stacked up around the league? We’ll be looking at the players to watch, those high on prospect draft boards, and the ones already drafted by NHL teams. The team’s place in the standings, win or loss streaks, and other important information to prime everyone to be ready for the opposition.
The Kelowna Rockets are loaded with offensive threats that can turn a game on a dime. First among them, of course, being the elder Iginla brother. The 2024 first-round pick of the Utah Mammoth has returned to the lineup and exploded to the top of the Rockets goals and points races. He has played in 9 games this season, and accumulated 11 goals and 18 points in that time. He’s first in both categories, averaging 2 points per night and only being held below 2 points in a game on 2 occasions. Stopping him entirely has seemed nearly impossible, and simply containing him is even a challenge in itself. He is a menace along the boards, being either the first to touch it or making the opponent second guess if they want to be the first one there. He’s not afraid to play off the puck, even when he has the puck, to initiate contact and throw his weight around in the process of making a play. If given any opportunity to play his game, he could disrupt everything the Oil Kings try to achieve tonight.
Tied atop the Rockets points standings is rookie Tomas Poletin, who has the same 11 goals and 18 points, but has played in 17 games to reach those numbers. The 4th round pick of the New York Islanders in 2025 is in his first WHL season after being the 1st overall pick of the CHL Import Draft by the Rockets this summer. He has not failed to impress since his arrival. His scouting profile notes that he lives for the physicality and makes a home for himself along the boards. He’s most at home when making chances off of turnovers, and initiating steals from his opponents. Edmonton’s play recently has had sloppy moments in their own zone, and this will be a key area to watch for improvement with Poletin lurking.
The Rockets roster has depth in spades, as they feature three additional NHL Draft picks, all third-round picks, in Hayden Paupanekis (Montreal), Carson Wetsch (San Jose), and the elder Gojsic (Nashville). Wetsch is the captain and leader of this team, with a notable long stride making it easy for him to break away or catch up on rushes in either direction. He has a dangerous wrister that he can unleash at any time. Gojsic is always looking for an opportunity to rush the net, but features his own dangerous wrister that has been noted as an NHL quality shot. Paupanekis is their shutdown center, recognized for his defensive acumen and ability to stifle opposing teams’ top players. He’s a smooth skater with an active stick and excels at winning battles behind the net.
The Rockets defense was dealt a massive blow this week, as recent acquisition Peyton Kettles requires shoulder surgery. Kettles was acquired in a trade from the Swift Current Broncos 3 weeks ago, in a massive trade that saw the Rockets send 5 draft picks for the star defender. He managed to play in only 3 games for Kelowna before suffering the injury. In his place, keep an eye on top pair Mazden Leslie and Rowan Guest who will be tasked with the responsibility of shutting down the Oil Kings firepower.
Deeper on the depth chart, LA Kings draft pick Will Sharpe is a key contributor of this Rockets team. He leads all defense with 10 points through 13 games played and is recognized by scouts for being a “do-it-all defenceman” who can run you over like a truck, or connect a smooth shot-pass for a deflection.
Goaltending for Kelowna appears to be their largest inconsistency this season as neither Josh Banini, nor rookie Harrison Boettiger have managed to string wins together. Banini is 5-4-2–0 with a .893 Sv% and 3.35 GAA, while Boettiger is 3-2-1-1 with a .906 Sv% and a 2.67 GAA. The Rockets have been rolling a pretty consistent rotation with their tandem, which would suggest that it should be Boettiger’s night tonight.
The Rockets are hosting the Memorial Cup this year, and they’re building their season toward being ready when the tournament arrives. Edmonton, meanwhile, hopes this isn’t their last trip to the Okanagan this year. For tonight, it comes down to two sets of brothers, and whether the younger ones can topple the order of things. You can watch the game for free on Victory+, or listen along on iHeartRadio. It’s a late one as puck drop is scheduled for 8pm local Edmonton time. The next game will be Saturday Night as the Oil Kings head north for their final stop in BC against Prince George. Make sure you’re following us here at The Roil Line for all future Roil Briefings!