Special side note, Jake Neighbours made his NHL debut with the St. Louis Blues on this day in 2021. Neighbours played nine games for the Blues before being returned to captain the Oil Kings in '21-22 season. He has had a very successful start to his NHL career.

The Oil Kings have only played twice on this day in their modern day history. Neither time did it fall on a Thursday and neither time was the team victorious. In case you are curious, the team only plays one Thursday game this season (New Year's Day). Let's recollect!

2010-11

Second period powerplay goals by Jordan Hickmott and Josh Lazowski brought the Oil Kings to within one of the Medicine Hat Tigers. It is as close to coming back as the Club got as they dropped the game 6-4. A much better showing the than 6-goal loss the night before to the Tigers in Edmonton. Which is a marketing nightmare as you never want to lose badly at home.

Both Edmonton goalies, Laurent Brossoit and Cam Lanigan ended up with 11 saves. It was a tough season series against Medicine Hat in '10-11 being able to collect only one victory against them. It's nutty to think their much ballyhooed prospect that jumped to NCAA for this season Gavin McKenna was only approaching his 4th birthday when this game was played.

2015-16

The Regina Pats visited Edmonton and left with two points. Earlier in the week the Pats had defeated Edmonton in Regina. The Oil Kings directed 43 shots on net but only Dario Meyer and Colton Kehler were able to score. Both goals were on the powerplay. The starting goaltender for Edmonton was pulled 2:49 into the game after allowing two Pats goals on four shots. Later in the season, the Oil Kings did earn a home victory against these same Pats.