16 days away from the Edmonton Oil Kings starting their regular season down in Red Deer. The Rebels being the season opening matchup is a frequent occurrence but how frequently has the number 16 changed bodies for the Oil Kings? Spoiler alert, it has been a beary good number.
2007-08
J.P. Szaszkiewicz was one of the "elder statesman" of the inaugural Oil Kings team. J.P. was plucked from the Spokane Chiefs during the expansion draft which brought the Edmonton native home. Szaszkiewicz had an assist on the very first Teddy Bear Toss goal. His final WHL home game he scored two of his five goals on the season.
2008-09 through 2012-13
Slave Lake's T.J. Foster played his 338 regular season and 43 playoff WHL games with the Oil Kings. The 338 games stands as the record for most games played for the organization. Statistically his best season was 2011-12 where he joined the 30-goal club and hit the 75-point benchmark. On October 7th 2012 Foster etched his name into the record book, a record he now shares with Henrik Samuelsson, with four goals in one game. Foster added 10 points in both the 2012 and 2013 playoff runs.
2013-14 through 2017-18
British Columbia born Davis Koch played parts of five seasons for the Oil Kings. Koch scored 21 goals in 2016-17 and was well on his to do it again 17-18 before being traded at the deadline. One of those goals launched 14,122 bears onto the ice.
2019-20 & 2020-21
Jayden Henderson's Oil Kings career spanned 19 games. His lone goal came against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
2021-22 & 2022-23
Manitoba's Hayden Wheddon's Oil Kings career spanned 9 games. He finished his WHL career with Brandon.
2023-24
Aidan Litke was acquired ahead of this season from the Portland Winterhawks. Litke was dominant in his 9 games with the Oil Kings putting up 11 points. Unfortunately on October 20th the Oil Kings announced the 20-year-old would miss the rest of the season due to injury.
2024-25
Rylen, I'm surprised the in-house host didn't do more with his last name, Roersma was acquired on September 24th shortly into last season. Roersma had a streaky season which ended up statistically as a down year for the graduating WHL'er. We wish him all the best with the Alaska Nanooks!