The number 8 in Oil Kings history has a lot of sentiment attached to it. The first to ever to wear it in Rexall Place still appears on the video board at Rogers Place. The second one to wear it had many Oil Kings fans contemplating New York Islander fandom. Let's recollect!
2007-08 through 2009-10
It's okay if you only know Drew Nichol from his video safety messages played during Oil Kings games. Nichol was the original number 8 for the modern day Oil Kings wearing it proudly for three years. The Edmontonian spent the next 5 years playing for the U of A Bears.
2010-11 through 2013-14
Griffin Reinhart switched to number 8 in '10-11 after two games in 09-10 as number 28. Reinhart stands as the highest ever NHL drafted Oil King going 4th overall to the New York Islanders. Of all the Oil Kings draftees, Griffin is also the 4th to make his NHL debut. The '10-11 Oil Kings Rookie of the year, he wore the captain C on his chest for the '12-13 and '13-14 seasons. Reinhart co-shared the '13-14 Oil Kings Defenseman of the Year and co-shares the record for most career playoff assists by a d-man.
2014-15
Three years of being a physical force with the Sherwood Park Crusaders earned Calgary Hitmen bantam draftee Marshall Donald a spot with them. Prior to the trade deadline Donald was traded to the Oil Kings. He played 22 regular season games plus two playoff games.
2016-17 through 2020-21
A 2015 first round WHL bantam draft pick, Ethan Cap played his entire major junior career with the Oil Kings. Cap's 287 regular season games played is the franchise record for defenseman. His ability to keep up his availability, Cap would have unceded T.J. Foster as the franchise leader in games if it weren't for the pandemic. His Oil Kings team awards include the '19-20 Humanitarian of the Year as well as the '16-17 and '17-18 Scholastic Player of the Year. Cap was one of the assistants captains in '18-19.
2021-22 & 2022-23
Rookie Braeden Wynne played 44 regular season games plus 7 playoff games for the WHL Champion Oil Kings. When the Club's "Jr A cycle" reset for '22-23, Wynne played 52 more games.
2023-24
The Oil Kings traded for Matthew Gallant before Christmas and he slid right into lineup. Post Christmas, Gallant went on a four game point streak. He was put on CHL waivers after two games in '24-25.