A happy 2025-26 home opener to all who partake! A happy 18th anniversary to those fans who have partaken in this tradition since the inaugural game in franchise history in 2007. The Edmonton Oil Kings have amassed a 5-1 record on this calendar day. All 5 wins at home, the 1 loss on the road. Let's recollect!

2007-08

The Kootenay Ice shared the ice with the Oil Kings for the inaugural game at Rexall Place. 6,782 fans only had to wait 2:08 to celebrate the first ever goal. Defenseman Brandon Lockerby, selected 6th in the expansion draft, is forever etched in Oil Kings history as that goal scorer.

Craig McCallum scored the Oil Kings second goal, the first powerplay goal in franchise history. With one second left on the clock in the game, J.P. Szaszkiewicz scored to break the tie starting the Oil Kings franchise off with a victory. With an assist on the game winning goal, team captain Bretton Stamler became the first Oil King player to have a multi-point game. Alex Archibald made 25 saves earning the win in net.

2008-09

Game two of this season was the first win for the Oil Kings. A 4-3 victory over the Calgary Hitmen that saw defenseman Adrian Van de Mosselaer assist on all 4 goals!

Brenden Dowd opened the scoring a mere 1:47 into the game. With the score 3-1 for Calgary, Dowd scored the Club's second goal of the game at the 1:15 mark of the third. One minute, one second later Jeff Lee tied the game. Four minutes, two seconds later Brett Breitkruez scored the eventual game winner. Dalyn Flette made 22 saves earning the win in net.

2012-13

10,976 fans attended the Thursday home/season opener at Rexall Place versus the Kootenay Ice. 1:01 into the game Michael St. Croix opened up the scoring for the Oil Kings. 1:43 later Brandon Baddock made it 2-0. With 1:01 remaining Keegan Lowe, already with an assist, scored giving the home team a 3-1 lead after one period.

Henrik Samuelsson scored the eventual game winner on the powerplay at 12:14 of the second period. At the 16:26 mark Keegan Lowe would complete the "Gordie Howe Hat-Trick" fighting Jeff Hubic. Goaltender Laurent Brossoit started his final season in the WHL making 25 saves for the win.

2013-14

Edmonton scored a touchdown, Calgary scored a field goal! The season started off with a bang as the Oil Kings defeated the Hitman 7-3.

Aaron Irving, Ashton Sautner, Mitchell Moroz and Cody Corbett all scored in the opening frame. Corbett scored again in the second period before Brett Pollock chased future NHL'er Chris Driedger from the net with the Oil Kings sixth goal. Henrik Samuelsson closed out the scoring for the Club finishing the night with four points. Edmonton was 5 out of 10 on the powerplay!

Tristan Jarry, the starting goaltender position all his now, began the campaign with 27 saves for the victory. Jarry's NHL career far outshone Driedger.

2014-15

11,024 fans watched the Oil Kings outshot the Kootenay Ice 30-8 through two periods of play but only be tied at two entering the final frame. Andrew Koep's second goal of the game at the 16:08 mark of the third stood as the game winner.

The Ice outshot the Oil Kings 12-6 in the final frame. Goaltender Patrick Dea withstood the challenge keeping them off the scoreboard and finished the game with 18 saves.

2024-25

A visit to Lethbridge began the season. A Landon Hanson goal at the 8:49 mark of the first period was the high point of the visit. The Oil Kings special teams were not special going 0-for-2 on the powerplay and giving up two shorthanded goals (one was into an empty net).

Being outshot 9-1 in the third period assured the loss. Kolby Hay finished with 23 saves.

Home Game (5) Statistics from this day in history