The Great Gernat ices Kootenay for Oil Kings

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The defending WHL champions rolled into Rexall Place tonight to face the Oil Kings and a very small crowd watched one of the least exciting games of the year.

The OK kids had a ton of trouble getting in sync early on with passes off the mark and to many giveaways. The Ice could only take advantage once on the miscues when Max Reinhart lifted one over Laurent Brossoit's shoulder to open the scoring. It stayed that way until 6 minutes into the 3rd period. Not because of stellar goaltending from Nathan Lieuwen, although he did make one super stop in the second, but rather because neither team had much going.

On a 3rd period power play, Martin Gernat unloaded a blast from the point that went wide, but rebounded right on the stick of TJ Foster who put away his 3rd of the season, tying him with Gernat for the team lead. The Oiler draft pick wasn't only picking up assists, but he delivered a wicked hip check on Sam Reinhart during the second period, and then scored the game winning goal in the shoot out on a 'Peter Forsberg' type goal. Expect to see it on the WHL plays of the week.

Other then that, not very eventful, although all 3 Reinhart brothers had some sort of impact. Max scored, Griffin was kicked out for a kneeing major, and Sam went for a ride courtesy of Gernat.

Oil Kings Open Camp

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Season 5 of the Edmonton Oil Kings has arrived. Rookie camp participants are all in town and will undergo fitness testing tomorrow with the first on-ice sessions scheduled for Friday in Fort Saskatchewan.

This is definitely the strongest Oil Kings team WHL fans have seen in the Alberta capital which only stands to reason; only 3 members of the 2011-12 squad played even a single game in the expansion year - you can find the answer to that trivia question and a rundown of my projected Oil Kings roster after the jump.

Going Campin' - 2011

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The Edmonton Oilers released the names of the attendees for their summer prospect camp which begins on Monday. Here's the official list from EdmontonOilers.com and after the jump I will introduce you to the non-Oilers players who are coming to Millennium Place after getting an invite.

Knights get some Finish

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The CHL held it's import draft today and the London Knights held the first overall pick after making a deal with the Barrie Colts. A lot of speculation had Mark Hunter and company taking Mikhail Grigorenko from Russia, a guy who could contend for the top spot at the 2012 NHL draft. However London went to Finland instead opting for Olli Maatta, a left handed defenceman who stands 6.02 and is almost 200 pounds. One scout described Maatta as "...big and solid. A shut down guy." He was excellent at the U18 World Championship and played for Finland at last year's World Junior Championship as a 16 year old. Maatta will be in the outstanding crop of defenceman for next year's draft and some think will be a top 5 pick, although there will be plenty of competition from CHL blueliners.