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Samuelsson, St. Croix Lead Drafted Oil Kings

By Melissa Kania

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Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

The Edmonton Oil Kings are second in the Central Division, going 7-3-1-2 and earning 17 points in 13 games so far this season in the Western Hockey League. Several players on the team’s roster this year have been drafted to NHL teams already, with several more becoming draft eligible in 2013.

The strong Oil Kings team features six players recently drafted by NHL teams, one invited to an NHL team’s development camp, and several draft-eligible players for 2013.

Let’s take a look, shall we?

  • Keegan Lowe, 19 – Edmonton, AB – defense – drafted 73rd overall by the Carolina Hurricanes (2011). Three goals, 20 assists, +17 in 72 regular season games last season with the Oil Kings; three goals, four assists and +13 in 20 playoff games. This is his fourth full season with the Oil Kings, and so far, Lowe has tallied one goal and five assists in nine games played.
  • Travis Ewanyk, 19 – St. Albert, AB – centre – drafted 74th overall by the Edmonton Oilers (2011). Ewanyk missed nearly the entire 2011-12 season with a shoulder injury sustained during training camp, but still managed to notch a goal and three assists for a plus-8 and four points in 11 regular season games before adding five points (3-2) in 20 playoff games. Ewanyk has been with the Oil Kings since the 2008-’09 season and has 20 goals, 20 assists and 215 PIM in 140 career GP with Edmonton.
  • Michael St. Croix, 19 – Winnipeg, MB – centre – drafted 106th overall by the New York Rangers (2011). St. Croix joined the Oil Kings for two games in the 2008-09 season before making his full debut the next season. Last year, he scored 45 goals and tallied 65 assists, going plus-40 in 72 regular season games. He also had 19 points in 20 playoff games and has accrued nearly 250 points as an Oil King.
  • Laurent Brossoit, 19 – Surrey, BC – goaltender – drafted 164th overall by the Calgary Flames (2011). Brossoit has played nearly 6,000 minutes and is now in his fifth season with Edmonton.  Last year, he posted 42 wins in 61 games played. He’s 5-1-1-2 so far this season.
  • Griffin Reinhart, 18 – West Vancouver, BC – defense – drafted 4th overall by the New York Islanders (2012). Reinhart is entering his third full season with the Oil Kings, and was just named captain after the departure of previous captain Mark Pysyk to the American Hockey League. He scored 36 points in 58 games last season in the best of his career yet.
  • Henrik Samuelsson, 18 – Scottsdale, AZ – centre – drafted 27th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes (2012). Samuelsson, the son of former NHLer Ulf, was born in Pittsburgh and grew up in Scottsdale. He played with the US NTDP and has skated with members of the Swedish Elite League. Samuelsson had 23 points in 28 games last season with the Oil Kings and has notched 14 points in 13 games so far this season.
  • Mitchell Moroz, 18 – Calgary, AB – left wing – drafted 32nd overall by the Edmonton Oilers (2012). After playing a total of eight games for the Oil Kings during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons, Moroz spent his first full year with Edmonton last season. In 66 games, he scored 16 goals and nine assists and had 131 penalty minutes. Thirteen games into this season, Moroz has racked up 32 penalty minutes, two goals and five assists.
  • Stephane Legault, 19 – Edmonton, AB – left wing. Legault is as yet undrafted by the NHL, but was recently invited to the Edmonton Oilers development camp this year. Entering his third full season with the Oil Kings, Legault has now played 136 games with the organization and has 23 goals and 50 assists during that time. Although he has yet to score a goal this season, six goals in seven games is a respectable stat for the winger.
  • Cody Corbett, 18 – Lakeland, MN – defense. Corbett is also undrafted, but recently participated in USA Hockey’s first All-American Prospects Game held in Buffalo, NY. This is Corbett’s second season with the Oil Kings; in 54 games last year, he scored 26 points and was a plus-36. Like Legault, he is also waiting for his first goal this season, but has five assists and a plus-3 in 12 games so far.

The Oil Kings play again on Saturday, when they’ll host the 6-5-1 Kelowna Rockets.

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