The typical hand signal for the number two is also the hand sign for peace. All is right when hockey is back and the collective "we" are almost there. Looking back at the modern day history of the number two we find two Kristians Pelss Memorial Award winners and a bevy of assistant captains. Let's recollect!
2007-08 to 2010-11
The first to wear the number 2 wore it for four years and added the assistant "A" in his final year. Adrian Van de Mosselaer led the Oil Kings defence in goals and penalty minutes during that last season of his. Three of those seven goals were game winners. Adrian ended up trading his hockey gloves for surgical gloves as he became a nurse in 2021 (full story here).
2011-12 through 2013-14
Cody Corbett's name, over a decade later, is still written all over the Edmonton Oil Kings record book for defenseman. Most points (64) by a defenceman in a season, most playoff games (59) by a d-man, and most playoff assists (19 tied with Griffin Reinhart) by a rear guard. Corbett also shared the Defenseman of the Year Oil Kings Award with Reinhart. Cody won the 2012-13 Oil Kings Unsung Hero Award. Corbett had signed an entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche but never played an NHL game.
2014-15 to 2016-17
Opening day of the '16-17 season Kyle Yewchuk scored his first career goal in his 49th game as an Oil King. Yewchuk was an assist away from matching his career high (5) when he was traded to the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
2016-17
The same day Yewchuk was traded the Oil Kings acquired forward/defenceman Riley Stadel from the Kelowna Rockets. Stadel registered 2 goals and 8 assists in his 16 games with Edmonton.
2017-18 and 2018-19
Logan Dowhaniuk played 37 games designated as a rookie wearing the number 2. Losing his rookie status entering '19-20, Logan changed his number to 24.
2019-20
DeWinton, Alberta's Loeden Schaufler split '19-20 between the Spruce Grove Saints and Edmonton Oil Kings. His three goals in Oil King colours are his only three goals in the WHL.
2021-22 to 2023-24
A 16-year-old Carter Kowalyk played 34 regular season and 15 playoff games for the Oil Kings. In his sophomore season Kowalyk won the Kristians Pelss Memorial Award. The hardwork and dedication also earned Carter the Assistant "A" on his sweater in '23-24. He did not finish the year in Edmonton though as he was traded to the Kelowna Rockets. The Kelowna Courier's headline about the trade stated that Kowalyk was acquired to bring their team "a little bit of bite".
2024-25
"...Josh will bring leadership on and off the ice and will continue to help with development of our young defenceman” was the quote from Oil Kings President and GM Kirt Hill when the Club announced the acquisition of Josh Mori. The graduating WHL'er won the Kristians Pelss Memorial Award, an award given to the player who most exemplifies the qualities of a leader on and off the ice. We all wish him the best this upcoming season at UMass-Lowell in NCAA Division I and beyond.