EDMONTON OILERS vs TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Transcription
EDMONTON OILERS vs TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
VOLUME 4 l ISSUE 33 EDMONTON OILERS vs TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2015 l REXALL PLACE INSIDE OIL COUNTRY 10 Nelson Takes the Reins 4 Freeze Frame THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE EDMONTON OILERS 7Roster 101 boyd gordon 9 Prospects in the Pipeline darnell nurse There’s a new face behind the Oilers bench. Interim Head Coach Todd Nelson joined the team shortly before Christmas and has wasted little time in bringing a team-first culture to the Oilers Locker Room. His give-and-take philosophy has resonated with the players, garnering trust and respect both on and off the ice. 17Off The Ice Oscar Klefbom 19 Oilers Mad Libs derek roy 21Offside matt hendricks 23 Spot The Imposter rob klinkhammer 24Face-Off ryan nugent-hopkins vs justin schultz 27Community 29 Game Preview 31 Oilers Statistics 32 Oilers Roster 33 Visitors Roster 34 Visitors Statistics 41 Klefbom’s Road to the NHL 36 NHL Standings & Statistics Drafted 19th overall by the Oilers in the 2011 NHL Draft, Oscar Klefbom has taken the path less traveled by recent first-round selections within the organization. His time spent in the Swedish Elite League and American Hockey League (AHL) has proven successful thus far in the development of the young defenceman as he gets his shot in the big leagues. 39 Advance Scouting 40 Edmonton Oil Kings 49 Rogers Place Update 53 Bakersfield Condors Join AHL 51 Alumni Connection andy moog The ECHL’s Bakersfield Condors are preparing for a facelift as they get set to become the Oilers new American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate next season. Based out of Bakersfield, California, Condors fans can expect some new faces and a higher level of hockey, but the storied team name and famed marketing promotions won’t be going anywhere any time soon. 59Time-Out 60 Oilers Schedule 64 We Are Oil Country Managing Editor: Andrea Rutt Contributing Writers: Chris Wescott, Cait MacPhail, Kelsey Spohn, Andrea Rutt, Ryan Frankson, Maegan Saunders, Paul Owen Oilers Photographer: Andy Devlin Design and Layout: Kurt Kowalchuk Printing: RR Donnelley EDMONTONOILERS.COM l 1 The Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club publishes OIL COUNTRY forty-one times per season. Reproduction in whole or part without prior written consent of the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club is prohibited. Copyright ©2015 Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club. l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY Get closer to the game with the ScotiaHockey NHL debit card. ®* ® With every purchase you’re entered to win amazing prizes like NHL tickets, VIP experiences and more . Open an account with the ScotiaHockey ®* NHL® debit card today, and get 100 contest entries with your first purchase. 1 2 Available in all 30 teams. www.scotiabank.com/nhlcards ScotiaHockey®* NHL® debit cards available for all 30 teams. ®* Registered trademarks of The Bank of Nova Scotia. The ScotiaHockey®* NHL® debit card is not available with foreign currency bank accounts and may not be connected to a SCENE† membership account. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup and the Stanley Cup Final logo are registered trademarks and the NHL All-Star Game logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL GameCentre LIVE and GameCentre LIVE are trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. © NHL 2014. All Rights Reserved. † Trademark of SCENE IP LP, used under licence. The Contactless Indicator is a trademark of of EMV Co. LLC. Used under license. 1 Contest period is September 1, 2014 to August 31, 2015. For joint bank accounts, only the account holder making the qualifying purchase is credited with the corresponding entries in each case. Prizes: Three (3) Grand Prizes: trip for two to (a) the 2015 NHL® All-Star Game, (b) a 2015 Stanley Cup® Final game and (c) the 2015 Molson Canadian NHL Face-Off™, (approx. retail value $5,000 each). Round trip economy air fare included for winners living more than 100 km from event. Eighty (80) monthly prizes: five pairs (5) of tickets to a regular season NHL game in the city of the winner’s choice (approx. retail value $300 each), twenty-five (25) Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE™ Subscriptions (approx. retail value $200 each, value subject to change) and fifty (50) $50 shop.canada.nhl.com gift cards (retail value $50 each). Other conditions: Limit one prize per person per contest draw period. Total approx. retail value of all prizes $130,800. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received during each draw period. For rules and no purchase method of entry go to www.scotiabank.com/nhladventure. Correctly answering a mathematical skill-testing question required. Contest is open to all legal residents of Canada. It is not open to employees, immediate family members of employees that live in the same household and those domiciled with employees of the National Hockey League, its member teams, NHL Enterprises Canada, L.P., NHL Enterprises, L.P., NHL Enterprises B.V. and NHL Interactive CyberEnterprises, Scotiabank or Bond Brand Loyalty or any of their respective parent, subsidiary or affiliated companies, licensees or advertising and promotional agencies. 2 100 bonus entries: First card purchase must occur within 60 days of bank account opening and within the Contest Period. Awarded one-time maximum for each joint bank account. Not available to existing deposit account holders. YOUR HOME FOR COMPLETE EDMONTON OILERS COVERAGE EXCLUSIVE LIVE PLAY BY PLAY AND OILERS NOW WITH BOB STAUFFER WEEKDAYS NOON– 2PM ONLINE AT 630CHED.COM/OILERS FREEZEFRAME The Oilers celebrate a 4-3 win over Boston on February 18, 2015 after defenceman Martin Marincin notched the game-winning shot in the 12th round of the shootout. THIS IS OIL COUNTRY l 4 l EDMONTONOILERS.COM EDMONTONOILERS.COM l 5 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY S inc e 19 9 4 We’ve been helping girls turn big dreams into reality by supporting Canadian women’s hockey development programs. THE ESSO BRAND IS PROUD TO BE PART OF THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF CANADIAN WOMEN’s HOCKEY. Esso is a trademark of Imperial Oil Limited. Imperial Oil, licensee. ® Official mark of Hockey Canada. ROSTER 101 BOYD GORDON The 31-year-old Saskatchewan native dishes out some personal favourites and confessions. After posting an impressive 56.5% faceoff percentage in 74 games for the Oil last season, Gordon has been strong in the circle once again, ranking 11th in the NHL with 55.6% in 62 games played to date. Hometown: Regina, Saskatchewan Nickname: Gordo Why do you wear #27: Actually my favourite numbers are #15 or #19, but I wore #27 in the World Juniors First car: Saturn Biggest pet peeve: Bad drivers Hidden talent: I don’t think I have one Hobbies: Golfing Fearful of: Drowning One thing that most people don’t know about you is: I turned 31 this year Favourite place in the world: California Favourite pro sports team: Manchester United F.C. Favourite cereal: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Three things you can’t travel without: Favourite movie: Gladiator 1) Toothbrush 2) Sunglasses 3) Wallet What’s on your iPod right now? Alternative and electronic Your in-flight entertainment is: Watching The Walking Dead, Mad Men and Breaking Bad Three things on your bucket list: 1) Deep-sea diving in South Africa 2) Travel to space 3) Drive a Formula 1 car EDMONTONOILERS.COM l 7 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY PART OF NOW YOU’RE IN CONTROL REVIEW EVERY POSSIBLE ANGLE Up to 6 different cameras means you get the best look at the action, every time with MyReplay.* FOCUS ON TOP PLAYERS Shadow superstars through their entire shifts with Star Cam.* GET INTO OFF-ICE ACTION Players’ benches are in your domain with the POV Cam.* SOAR ABOVE THE PLAY Get the eagle-eye view of every play, end to end, with the Sky Cam.* Rogers customers can enjoy access to innovative camera and replay angles with GamePlus™, part of Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE™. With GamePlus features, experience the NHL® in a whole new way with leading-edge technology behind innovative camera angles like the Sky Cam, Star Cam and more. Review the big plays from a choice of different angles with MyReplay. And there are other incredible features – including exclusive insider extras, post-game interviews, and more. Visit rogers.com/NHL *GAMEPLUS™ FEATURE AVAILABILITY VARIES BY GAME AND ARENA. STANDARD DATA OVERAGE/ROAMING CHARGES APPLY. MYROGERS ACCOUNT REGISTRATION REQUIRED. SOME BLACKOUTS AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS APPLY BASED ON YOUR LOCATION AT TIME OF VIEWING. OTHER CONDITIONS APPLY. VISIT ROGERS.COM/TERMS FOR FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Data consumption is approx. 1GB/game when streamed to a smartphone and approx.2-5GB/game when streamed to a tablet, computer, gaming console or TV (varies based on length of game, stream quality, device and other factors). Data usage exceeding your plan allotment (overage) is charged in increments rounded up to the next MB or GB (as applicable based on your plan). Standard roaming charges apply when not on the Rogers wireless network. National Hockey League Players’ Association, NHLPA and the NHLPA logo are trademarks of the NHLPA and are used under license. © NHLPA. All rights reserved. NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks and NHL GameCentre LIVE and GameCentre LIVE are trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. © NHL 2015. All Rights Reserved. © 2015 Rogers Communications Inc. DARNELL NURSE Height: 6’ 4” Weight: 205 Position: Defence Born: February 4, 1995 Hamilton, ON The Oilers selected defenceman Darnell Nurse in the first round (seventh overall) during the 2013 NHL Draft in New Jersey. Nurse played in the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) before moving on to junior with the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, with whom he’s currently in his fourth season. The 20-year-old is the Greyhounds’ captain and has 31 points (9G, 22A) in 33 games, leading the team to an impressive 48-11-0-2 record. Nurse captured gold at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship as a member of Team Canada and also made his NHL debut earlier this season, playing two games for the Oilers before being assigned back to the OHL. When did you start playing hockey? I started playing hockey when I was 5 years old. Favourite NHL player as a kid? Jarome Iginla Who encouraged you to play hockey? I was encouraged to play by my father Richard and my grandpa Ralph. Greatest accomplishment in hockey? Winning the World Junior Championship with Team Canada this year. Biggest challenges along the way in minor hockey? Having to drive back and forth from Toronto, which was about an hour away, five days a week to practice and play. Also, not playing on a team with my friends from home. Greatest disappointment along the way? Not getting invited to the final World Junior camp last year. Greatest minor hockey moment? Winning the All-Ontario Bantam AAA Championship. Most influential person in your hockey career when you were growing up? My parents because of their support throughout my minor hockey career. EDMONTONOILERS.COM What area have you been working on to get to the next level? I have been working on defensive details such as positioning on the ice and stick placement. What excites you about the possibility of playing for the Oilers? Playing in a great, hockey-driven city and living out every Canadian kid’s dream. l 9 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY THIS IS OIL COUNTRY l 10 l EDMONTONOILERS.COM TODD NELSON Oilers Interim Coach brings new culture to Locker Room Chris Wescott T ODD NELSON’S COACHING CAREER HAD BEEN BUILDING TOWARD HIS ULTIMATE GOAL – to be an NHL head coach. So when Oilers General Manager Craig MacTavish called him just before Christmas, offering him the rare opportunity to achieve that dream, Nelson jumped at the offer. During Nelson’s formative years as a player destined to become a head coach, he learned from longtime head coach Barry Trotz, now with the Washington Capitals, in the American Hockey League (AHL). Playing under Trotz in Portland left a deep impression on Nelson and helped form a foundation of the type of coach he’d eventually evolve into. Nelson says the biggest thing he took from Trotz was how to build a team-first culture. That’s something he set out to do in Edmonton from the moment he took full control of the Oilers bench on an interim basis. Nelson gathered the players in the Locker Room before a Sunday practice in December, shortly after the coaching transition was made. “I’ve been really fortunate to play on good hockey teams, I’ve been really fortunate to coach good hockey teams and my intention is to make this a good hockey club,” Nelson told the team. “It’s not normal for me to not make the playoffs.” Nelson acknowledged the team’s place in the standings and gave his honest opinion. “That doesn’t sit well with me,” he told them. But he then explained what the team would start working on, and that’s building a team and a culture. Just as Trotz had showed him as a player, Nelson was trying to show this group. “I believe culture is so important with any hockey team or business for that matter,” Nelson said. “I think that we need to have a family-first attitude. We all have families away from the rink, but once we get to the rink we are a family there. We have to get to a point in time where we care more about each other than we do ourselves. If we get to that point where we’re totally unselfish then we’re all fighting toward a common goal.” EDMONTONOILERS.COM l That meeting with the players was important to Nelson. The tone-setting messaging was the first step in building a positive player-coach relationship. The real work then followed in practice, where Nelson says he demands a lot from his players. continued on page 12 11 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY This give-and-take approach has worked wonders. Immediately, the practice tempo increased. A few days after Nelson’s closed-door presentation, the team ran through some fast-paced drills, followed by a scrimmage, with the losing team having to skate after. “We’ve taken more pride in our practices as of late,” Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said after a particularly spirited practice in January. “We know that we can be a little bit sloppy out there at times and I think your work ethic in games starts with practice. There are a lot of things we wanted to work on and that’s one of them.” Increasing the pace of practice was a start, but more importantly, Nelson wanted to earn the players’ trust. “I’m standing here before you where trust and respect is a two-way street,” Nelson told the players. “I’m going to have to earn yours and you’re going to have to earn mine.” “We’re staying tighter as a team now and it’s more fun to play the game,” Nail Yakupov said. “When it’s fun in the game, it’s better for you and easier for you to play the game with your teammates.” Nelson’s aptitude for pushing the right buttons with his players and instilling a culture comes from experience gained with the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons. Through his first three seasons as a head coach in the AHL, Nelson dealt with all sorts of team makeups. From youthful bluelines to veteran cores and scoring aces to scoring committees, he saw it all. He managed back-to-back Western Conference Final appearances regardless. Last season, however, was his most difficult test to date. The Barons had 152 transactions last season, including 85 before Christmas. The roster flux and mounting injuries set the team back in the standings. Nelson coached a total of 58 skaters, including an unbelievable nine goaltenders. On the morning of January 30, 2014, the Barons were a seasonlow 14th place in the Western Conference. From that low point on, the Barons finished the season 20-7-1-4 on their way to an eighth-seed finish. He also brought a “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” relationship to the team by listening to the players and accommodating their interests and suggestions on the culture and environment in the dressing room. He’s allowed for a looser dressing room, but not without asking the players for a hard work ethic and execution on the game plan. continued on page 15 THIS IS OIL COUNTRY l 12 l EDMONTONOILERS.COM Exclusive to Grafton-Fraser’s Group of stores It’s common in certain circles to hear that Nelson and his staff “willed” that team to the playoffs. His efforts did not go unrewarded, given his personal growth through the adversity. “I think the biggest thing is, going through what we did last year, it made me a better coach with how to make adjustments, how to use guys in different situations and basically just how to coach harder. Coaching hard is one thing but you can’t over coach either and I think it made us a lot better as a staff that’s for sure,” Nelson said. “I think last year taught me that you’re never out of a fight,” he added. “You’ve got to keep on getting better and good things will happen. It came down to culture, when we gelled at the right time to finally get our team together.” Getting a team to come together is something Nelson has been able to do in previous coaching stops. His challenge at the NHL level is to do just that with the Oilers. He has now delivered his message, and is hoping to see the return from his players. EDMONTONOILERS.COM l “I want our team to get better every day,” Nelson said of his goals for the remainder of the season. “We’ve got to continue to improve. What I want to accomplish with this team is a level of consistency of play that’s going to produce wins for us. We’ve got to play a fast game, I want to have that consistent night in and night out. “For me personally, I’d like to have a winning record. I want to win as many games as I am able to. But I think the most important thing is getting this team to play well on a consistent basis and care about each other. That’s the most important thing and the wins and losses will take care of themselves.” The final message from Nelson to his players? We’re in this together. “I have to walk the walk with them,” Nelson said. “You always have to bring positivity to the rink. There are going to be good days and bad days but the way I look at it, every day is a new day and we have to work hard to get better and we have to do that together.” 15 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY Tim Hortons premium blend coffee. Always fresh, just the way you love it. Based on #1 brewed coffee servings at QSR (The NPD Group/CREST® YE Feb ’13). © Tim Hortons, 2013 The Oilers and Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation are actively involved in communities across Oil Country year-round. Check out what they’ve been up to in the New Year. The perfect place for family-friendly fun and sport, the Beverly Heights Community Rink celebrated its grand opening on Family Day with the help of the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation and Hockey Canada Foundation, who made a joint contribution of $460,000 to refurbish both the Beacon Heights and Beverly Heights community rinks. To encourage a national conversation about mental health, the Edmonton Oilers dedicated their February 21 game to Hockey Talks. The event, benefiting the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Inpatient Unit and the Oilers Foundation, included the sale of limited edition, signed hats and discussions around awareness and assistance for mental health. EDMONTONOILERS.COM l Spreading the love, the Oilers Ladies stopped by Ronald McDonald House Northern Alberta on Friday, February 13 for a special afternoon of Valentine’s Day activities. The Ladies had the chance to sit down with kids and their families to make special Valentine’s crafts and decorate sugar cookies. After becoming fast friends with Kids with Cancer representative Avena, Luke Gazdic joined her Hair Massacure team and committed to shaving his head and beard in support of Avena’s fight against cancer. Gazdic’s pink-haired hero helped him shed his luscious locks and together, with the rest of their team, raised over $23,500 for the Make A Wish Foundation Northern Alberta and the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. 17 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY THEY MOVED TO CANADA FOR HOCKEY . SO WE SENT THEM TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD. SEE THEIR INCREDIBLE STORY AT YOUTUBE.COM/MOLSONCANADIAN #ANYTHINGFORHOCKEY The Edmonton Oilers and associated logos are registered trademarks owned by Rexall Sports Corp. and are used under license. All rights reserved. DEREK ROY One of the newest players on the Oilers roster, centreman Derek Roy has made an immediate impact in Oil Country after being acquired from the Nashville Predators in December. The NHL veteran was Buffalo’s second-round pick (32nd overall) back in the 2001 NHL Draft. Now in his 13th NHL season, the 31-year-old has also spent time with Dallas, Vancouver, St. Louis and Nashville. I was born and raised in Rockland, Ontario . When I was a little kid, all I wanted to be when I grew up was a police officer, but after I laced up with the Clarence when I was seven years Creek Beavers old , I knew I wanted to be a hockey player. Back then, my favourite part of playing was scoring , and I grew up idolizing because Peter Forsberg he was an all-around good player and was fun to watch . My favourite coach growing up was and he taught me my dad how to skate . My most memorable hockey moment was winning the Memorial Cup in 2003 when I played for the Kitchener Rangers (OHL) . If I could go back and give myself one piece of advice it would be to stretch more ! On game days, my usual breakfast is eggs and yogurt and my special routine is that I have a nap and dress from my left side up . My favourite part of game day is meal and nap my pre-game and the last thing I think about before I step on the ice is the team that we’ re playing . My first impression of Oil Country was that the city is extremely passionate about hockey and during practices, I look forward to working on my hands and stickhandling. EDMONTONOILERS.COM l 19 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY Join our winning team at PioneerTruckLines.com PIONEER TRUCK LINES is a leader in pipe and heavy equipment hauling and we’re recruiting: · Truck Drivers · Winch Truck Drivers · Picker Operators · Mechanics · Dispatchers · Labourers THIS IS OIL COUNTRY l 20 l EDMONTONOILERS.COM MATT HENDRICKS WHERE IS HIS HOMETOWN? Gazdic: Minneapolis, Minnesota Eberle: Somewhere in Minnesota Klinkhammer: Minneapolis, Minnesota, but he plays like an Alberta boy! Hendricks: Blaine, Minnesota WHAT’S HIS WORST HABIT? Gazdic: Burping Eberle: Not sure! Klinkhammer: Talks too much Hendricks: Eating potato chips WHAT’S HIS TIM HORTON’S ORDER? Gazdic: Large black coffee and a bagel with butter Eberle: Black coffee Klinkhammer: Coffee: one cream, one sugar Hendricks: A black coffee WHAT’S HIS HIDDEN TALENT? Gazdic: Ping pong Eberle: DJing Klinkhammer: No idea! Hendricks: Fishing WHAT ACTOR WOULD PORTRAY HIM IN A MOVIE? Gazdic: Brad Pitt Eberle: Bradley Cooper Klinkhammer: Gary Busey Hendricks: Tom Hanks WHAT DEGREE IS HE WORKING ON FROM ST. CLOUD STATE? Gazdic: Political Science Eberle: Business Klinkhammer: Kinesiology Hendricks: I’m close to earning a BiologyWildlife Management degree WHAT’S HIS BIGGEST PET PEEVE? Gazdic: People being late Eberle: People being late Klinkhammer: Guys being late or not showing up Hendricks: Bad drivers WHAT’S HIS FAVOURITE KARAOKE SONG? Gazdic: Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’ Eberle: Phil Collins – Sussudio Klinkhammer: Probably something by AC/DC Hendricks: AC/DC – It’s a long way to the top (if you want to rock and roll) IF HE COULD STAR IN A REALITY SHOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Gazdic: Survivor Eberle: Survivor Klinkhammer: Survivor Hendricks: Survivor WHAT WOULD HE EAT IN AN EATING COMPETITION? Gazdic: Chicken wings Eberle: Pizza Klinkhammer: As many protein shakes as he could in an hour Hendricks: Hot dogs EDMONTONOILERS.COM l EBERLE 2.5 points 21 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY GAZDIC 2 points KLINKHAMMER 2 points Rob Klinkhammer is a total gem on social media, but the 28-year-old left-winger has also been a hit on-ice as one of the newest faces on the Oilers roster after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 2. The Lethbridge, Alberta native isn’t KITTEN around when it comes to his love for his beloved cat Mini so go ahead and guess which tweets are real and which are fake right MEOW! Rob Klinkhammer @Bobbyklink I like to chase around a little black puck. I also really like my cat. Edmonton Oilers. 1. If we get to round 13 again I’m ready… 2. Did Travolta just come out of Madame Tussauds wax museum? #creepy #oscars 3. Took Mini out on her leash to the dog park. Girl is hard as nails. #HatersGonnaHate 4. Tiger’s short game today was basically my highlight reel on the links last summer #yips #yikes #ChunkingEverything 5. On the road in S. Florida, missing Mini #NationalCatDay 6. Guys, does Meow Mix, Meow Mix ACTUALLY deliver? #justcurious 7. Floyd’s hype man is Warren Buffet…? #theomahabrawler 8. It’s easy to hate the Pats, even easier to get lost in Brady’s eyes.... Sorry lost my train of thought. Congrats patriots #WereTheBallsFull 6.Imposter 7.Real 8.Real 9.Imposter 10.Imposter 10. Almost home! Can’t wait to see Mini right meow! #MINI EDMONTONOILERS.COM l 23 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY 1.Real 2.Real 3.Imposter 4.Real 5.Real 9. At a wedding, was just asked to clink the glass… #notimpressed Nuge and Schultz are quite the tandem as these two young guns from British Columbia (Burnaby and Kelowna) not only play together, but live together as well. Find out how well these roommates really know each other in this installment of Face-Off! SCHULTZ’S ANSWERS: NUGENT-HOPKINS’ ANSWERS: 1. Who would win a round of golf? Him Me 2. Who is more of a mama’s boy? Him Me 3. Who would win a chicken wing eating competition? Him Me 4. Who is the better driver? Him 5. Who has better taste in music? Him 6. Who is more high maintenance? 1. Who would win a round of golf? Him Me Schultzy is a scratch golfer 2. Who is more of a mama’s boy? Him Me 3. Who would win a chicken wing eating competition? Him Me Me 4. Who is the better driver? Him Me 5. Who has better taste in music? Him Me Him Me but we both like country Me 6. Who is more high maintenance? Him Me 7. Who would win a round of Mario Kart? Him Me 7. Who would win a round of Mario Kart? Him Me 8. Who snores louder on the plane? Him Me 8. Who snores louder on the plane? Him Me 9. What do the guys make fun of him most for? 9. What do the guys make fun of him most for? Beating him in NHL 15 on Playstation 10. What’s the most embarrassing TV show he watches? America’ s Got Talent 10. What’s the most embarrassing TV show he watches? Big Bang Theory 11. What’s his worst habit? Sleeping all day and 11. What’s his worst habit? Junk food 12. What would his superhero name be? The Nuge IS Huge not leaving his room 12. What would his superhero name be? EDMONTONOILERS.COM His ping-pong skills, and he sucks at NHL 15 l 24 l Schuller Bear THIS IS OIL COUNTRY SWIPE YOUR AIR MILES COLLECTOR CARD TODAY! ® Trip for 2 to YOU COULD WIN $1,000,000 * OR OTHER GREAT PRIZES. /SafewayCanada @SafewayCanada Blu-ray™ Prize Pack from eOne Lagostina 10 Piece Cookware Set Garmin VIRB® Elite Action Camera Bradley Original Electric Smoker Hoover Air™ Cordless Upright Vacuum KRUPS Espressaria Automatic Espresso Machine Troy-Bilt Single-Stage Snow Thrower EDMONTONOILERS.COM l 25 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY *Annuity payable $50,000 annually for 20 years. No purchase required. See Customer Service Desk for Rules and Regulations. © 2014 Entertainment One Films Canada Inc. All Rights Reserved. Distributed exclusively in Canada by Entertainment One. ®LAGOSTINA is a registered trademark of Lagostina S.p.A. used under license by Coranco Corporation Limited. Bulova watch may not be exactly as shown. ®™ Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne, Co. and Sobeys West Inc. Visit Community Corner to check out the great silent auction items available. Fans can view items and place their bids until the end of the second intermission at the following three Community Corner locations: South Club, Main Concourse near Section 122 and Main Concourse near Section 101. Funds raised through this initiative continue to support various Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation programs. THE THE2015 2015INDIAN INDIAN MOTORCYCLE LINEUP MOTORCYCLE®®LINEUP HAS HASARRIVED. ARRIVED. The Indian® Chief Classic, Chief® Vintage and Chieftain® are now available in two-tone colors that celebrate true Americana. And, for 2015 we are proud to introduce - the Indian® Roadmaster®, a luxury touring bike, and the Indian® Scout™, a mid-size cruiser with a name respected by all, no matter what brand you ride. Indian and Indian Motorcycle are registered trademarks of Indian Motorcycle International LLC. Always wear a helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing and obey the speed limit. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 5688-75th 5688-75thStreet StreetEdmonton, Edmonton,AB AB780-440-3200 780-440-3200 www.cycleworks.com www.cycleworks.com IN THE COMMUNITY SUMMER ROSTER SPOTS OPEN FOR OILERS HOCKEY SCHOOL By Andrea Rutt School has never been so cool; Oilers Hockey School presented by Rogers that is! The Edmonton Oilers Hockey School is back and ready to fill its summer roster. Running in July and August, Oilers Hockey School provides grassroots players between the ages of five and 14 with the opportunity to develop their skills and character in a fun and supportive environment. Partnering with the Okanagan Hockey Academy, who has over 50 years of excellence under their belts, the Oilers Hockey School will host three week-long sessions at Servus Credit Union Place in St. Albert and the fourth at the Leduc Recreation Centre. Participants can sign up for a multitude of camps ranging from basic skill development to specialized programs. “My kids really have a lot of fun here, this is our third year,” said Shane Ramteemal during last year’s camp. “They really enjoy the level of instruction and the fun they have. My favourite part about the camp is you can see the development in them and they really enjoy it.” Comprehensive on-ice training is complemented with daily office activities and dry-land training, all under the guidance of EDMONTONOILERS.COM l top quality hockey instructors, including former NHL and WHL players. Participants also receive special guest appearances from Oilers and Oil Kings players and coaches throughout the week. While there is no shortage of hockey camps here in the heart of Oil Country, Oilers Hockey School sees sell-out numbers every year and a high rate of returning participants. “What we do here at the Oilers Hockey School goes far beyond just on ice. We’re giving them the environment to be better teammates and really become better athletes,” added Brad Ellard, Oilers Senior Manager, Community & Fan Relations. From the moment they put on their new Oilers jersey to saying farewell to their new-found friends, Oilers Hockey School is a camp that will have everyone wanting to attend summer school. And it doesn’t end there; all hockey school participants will have the exclusive opportunity to view an Oilers practice during the 2015-14 season, giving them a sneak peek into the efforts it takes to compete at the NHL level. For Oilers Hockey School dates, prices and more information, please visit edmontonoilers.com. 27 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY GO GO proud partners of the edmonton oilers. licensed • dine-in • take out • delivery open late nite 7 days a week menu availaBle online at Bostonpizza.com Boston Pizza and the Boston Pizza roundel are registered trademarks of Boston Pizza Royalties Limited Partnership, used under license. The Edmonton Oilers and associated logos are registered trademarks owned by Rexall Sports Corp. and are used under license. All rights reserved. © Boston Pizza International Inc. 2014. GAME PREVIEW EDMONTON OILERS VS TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS AS OF MAR. 13, 2015 TONIGHT THE OILERS HIT THE ICE ONCE AGAIN IN OIL COUNTRY TO TAKE ON THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS FOLLOWING A FIVEGAME ROAD TRIP. It’s the lone appearance for the visiting Leafs at Rexall Place this season and the final matchup between these two clubs after the Oil were defeated 5-1 back on February 7 at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto native Luke Gazdic scored the lone goal in the affair with Oscar Klefbom and Rob Klinkhammer each picking up an assist in the road loss. The Leafs rank 14th in the Eastern Conference and also sit 26th across the League with 60 points (27-35-6) registered in 68 games to date. OILERS TO WATCH NAIL YAKUPOV has had a hot stick with seven points (4G, 3A) in his last 10 games. The 21-year-old Russian product ranks sixth on the team in points with 24 (10G, 14A) on his resume through 67 games. The former first-overall selection in the 2012 NHL Draft has seven powerplay points (4G, 3A) and one game-winning goal to date. He’s also chipped in with 76 hits and 23 blocked shots. Centreman DEREK ROY has registered three points (2G, 1A) in his last five games and was recently named third star of the game versus the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 12. The Ottawa, Ontario product has 16 points (7G, 9A), two powerplay points (1G, 1A) and has blocked 23 shots for the Oil. The 31-year-old NHL veteran is in his 13th NHL season and his first season in Blue and Orange. MAPLE LEAFS TO WATCH Right-winger PHIL KESSEL tops the team with 52 points (23G, 29A) secured in 68 games. The former Boston Bruins first-round pick (fifth overall) in the 2006 NHL Draft also leads the pack when it comes to the Leafs powerplay with 23 powerplay points (8G, 15A), placing him 18th League-wide in this regard. The 27-year-old Wisconsin native is in his sixth season in Toronto after spending three years with the Bruins. TYLER BOZAK has been a solid centreman through the first 68 games for the Leafs. The Regina, Saskatchewan product is third on the team in points with 41 (19G, 22A) this season. The former University of Denver Pioneer (NCAA) has chipped in with 17 powerplay points (11G, 6A) and a team-high two shorthanded goals. The 28-yearold leads the way with 762 wins in the circle and a 51.8 faceoff percentage. TODAY ON EDMONTONOILERS.COM CHECK OUT THE LATEST VIDEOS, STATS, AND MORE! SIMPLY SCAN THIS CODE WITH YOUR MOBILE DEVICE FOR EVERYTHING OILERS. ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. DON’T HAVE THE SCANNING SOFTWARE? VISIT HTTP://OILERS.NHL.COM/SCAN EDMONTONOILERS.COM l 29 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY Safety Quality Control www.patrikswaterandvac.ca Proudly Serving Canada and the United States At Patrik’s Water Hauling Ltd. our mission is to provide fluid hauling services to our clients in a safe, efficient and responsible manner. As an oilfield leader we are committed to our team relationships and protecting Nisku Office: 780-955-8878 resources for the future. THIS IS OIL COUNTRY l 30 l Now Hiring Operators EDMONTONOILERS.COM STATISTICS l OILERS STATS AS OF MAR. 13, 2015 # POS PLAYER 14 R JORDAN EBERLE GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW S S% 6717 3350 -2124 400156 10.90 93 C RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS6619 2645 -1319 201160 11.90 4 L TAYLOR HALL 42 11 19 30 -6 32 3 0 0 127 8.70 16 R TEDDY PURCELL 68 9 1928 -3024 4001177.70 19 D JUSTIN SCHULTZ 67 5 2025 -1910 0001015.00 10 R NAIL YAKUPOV 6710 1424 -3414 4011516.60 67 L BENOIT POULIOT 4414 721-324 413 78 17.90 8 C DEREK ROY 32 7 9 16 -12 12 1 0 1 47 14.90 23 L MATT HENDRICKS 61 7 815 -1072 010 888.00 84 46 D OSCAR KLEFBOM 2 11 13 -21 4 0 0 0 68 2.90 27 C BOYD GORDON 63 6 612-517 111 59 10.20 51 24 C ANTON LANDER 5 7 12 -8 6 3 0 2 31 16.10 21 D ANDREW FERENCE 65 2 911 -1739 000 523.80 29 C LEON DRAISAITL 372 79 -17410 149 4.10 86 D NIKITA NIKITIN 34 3 5 8 -9 12 2 0 1 65 4.60 5 D MARK FAYNE 68 2 6 8 -19 12 0 0 0 70 2.90 28 R MATT FRASER 6 L JESSE JOENSUU 263 47 -6810 045 6.70 20 2 2 4 -8 14 0 1 0 18 11.10 13 R STEVEN PINIZZOTTO 182 2 4130 000 15 13.30 12 L ROB KLINKHAMMER 27 1 2 3 -7 17 0 0 0 20 5.00 20 L LUKE GAZDIC 30 2 1 3 -1 38 0 0 0 22 9.10 62 R IIRO PAKARINEN 171 23 -4200 034 2.90 24 D BRAD HUNT 111 23 -6010 020 5.00 48 L RYAN HAMILTON 141 12 -6610 0 9 11.10 85 27 D MARTIN MARINCIN 15 R TYLER PITLICK 82 D JORDAN OESTERLE 22 D KEITH AULIE 0 1 1 -8 10 0 0 0 21 0.00 141 01 -4400 013 7.70 60 11 -4000 0 7 0.00 200 0 0053 000 140.00 88 D BRANDON DAVIDSON 40 00 -1000 0 1 0.00 39 C BOGDAN YAKIMOV 10 00 -1000 0 1 0.00 25 D DARNELL NURSE 20 00 -2000 0 2 0.00 # GOALIE 30BEN SCRIVENS GPI GS MIN GAA W L OT SO SA GA SV% G A PIM 47432632 2.99 1222 8 11263 131 .896 0 0 2 35VIKTOR FASTH 26241336 3.41 615 3 0 681 76 .888 0 0 0 32 RICHARD BACHMAN 411375.26 0200 82 12.8540 0 0 EDMONTONOILERS.COM l 31 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY OILERS l ROSTER FORWARDS # 4 8 10 12 14 15 16 20 23 27 28 48 51 62 67 93 NAME POS TAYLOR HALL L DEREK ROY C NAIL YAKUPOV R ROB KLINKHAMMER L JORDAN EBERLE R TYLER PITLICK R TEDDY PURCELL R LUKE GAZDIC L MATT HENDRICKS L BOYD GORDON C MATT FRASER R RYAN HAMILTON L ANTON LANDER C IIRO PAKARINEN R BENOIT POULIOT L RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS C HEIGHT 6’ 1” 5’ 9” 5’ 11” 6’ 3” 5’ 11” 6’ 0” 6’ 2” 6’ 4” 6’ 0” 6’ 0” 6’ 1” 6’ 2” 6’ 0” 6’ 1” 6’ 3” 6’ 0” WEIGHT 198 184 197 214 183 202 198 233 211 200 204 219 186 215 193 190 # 5 19 21 22 84 85 86 NAME HEIGHT MARK FAYNE 6’ 3” JUSTIN SCHULTZ 6’ 2” ANDREW FERENCE “C” 5’ 11” KEITH AULIE 6’ 6” OSCAR KLEFBOM 6’ 3” MARTIN MARINCIN 6’ 4” NIKITA NIKITIN 6’ 4” WEIGHT 215 196 184 222 210 203 217 # 30 32 35 NAME BEN SCRIVENS RICHARD BACHMAN VIKTOR FASTH WEIGHT 181 183 181 DATE OF BIRTH 14 NOV 1991 4 MAY 1983 6 OCT 1993 12 AUG 1986 15 MAY 1990 1 NOV 1991 8 SEP 1985 25 JUL 1989 17 JUN 1981 19 OCT 1983 20 MAY 1990 15 APR 1985 24 APR 1991 25 AUG 1991 29 SEP 1986 12 APR 1993 AGE 23 31 21 28 24 23 29 25 33 31 24 29 23 23 28 21 BIRTH PLACE CALGARY, AB, CAN OTTAWA, ON, CAN NIZHNEKAMSK, RUS LETHBRIDGE, AB, CAN REGINA, SK, CAN MINNEAPOLIS, MN, USA ST. JOHN’S, NL, CAN TORONTO, ON, CAN BLAINE, MN, USA UNITY, SK, CAN RED DEER, AB, CAN OSHAWA, ON, CAN SUNDSVALL, SWE LOVIISA, FIN ALFRED, ON, CAN BURNABY, BC, CAN AGE 27 24 35 25 21 22 28 BIRTH PLACE NASHUA, NH, USA KELOWNA, BC, CAN EDMONTON, AB, CAN ROULEAU, SK, CAN KARLSTAD, SWE KOSICE, SVK OMSK, RUS AGE 28 27 32 BIRTH PLACE SPRUCE GROVE, AB, CAN SALT LAKE CITY, UT, USA KALIX, SWE DEFENCE DATE OF BIRTH 15 MAY 1987 6 JUL 1990 17 MAR 1979 11 JUN 1989 20 JUL 1993 18 FEB 1992 16 JUN 1986 GOALTENDERS HEIGHT 6’ 2” 5’ 10” 6’ 0” DATE OF BIRTH 11 SEP 1986 25 JUL 1987 8 AUG 1982 Associate Coach....................................................... Keith Acton Assistant Coach...................................................Craig Ramsay Assistant Coach...............................................Rocky Thompson Head Athletic Therapist...............................................T.D. Forss Assistant Athletic Therapist ....................................Chris Davie Head Equipment Manager............................................Jeff Lang Assistant Equipment Manager ............................ Brad Harrison Dressing Room Attendant ..........................................Joey Moss Owner and Governor................................................... Daryl Katz Vice-Chairman, Oilers Entertainment Group........Bob Nicholson President and COO.............................................Patrick LaForge President, Hockey Operations....................................Kevin Lowe General Manager..............................................Craig MacTavish Sr. Vice President, Hockey Operations....................Scott Howson Assistant GM................................................................Bill Scott Sr. Director of Player Development.........................Rick Carriere Interim Head Coach................................................ Todd Nelson THIS IS OIL COUNTRY l 32 l EDMONTONOILERS.COM ROSTER l MAPLE LEAFS FORWARDS # 15 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 42 43 47 67 81 NAME POS JOAKIM LINDSTROM C RICHARD PANIK R JOFFREY LUPUL “A” L DAVID BOOTH L JAMES VAN RIEMSDYK L ZACH SILL C TREVOR SMITH C PETER HOLLAND C TYLER BOZAK C NAZEM KADRI C LEO KOMAROV C BRANDON KOZUN R PHIL KESSEL R HEIGHT 6’ 0” 6’ 1” 6’ 1” 6’ 0” 6’ 3” 6’ 0” 6’ 1” 6’ 2” 6’ 1” 6’ 0” 5’ 11” 5’ 8” 6’ 0” # 2 3 12 25 33 44 46 51 57 NAME HEIGHT ERIC BREWER 6’ 4” DION PHANEUF “C” 6’ 3” STEPHANE ROBIDAS “A” 5’ 11” TJ BRENNAN 6’ 1” TIM ERIXON 6’ 2” MORGAN RIELLY 6’ 1” ROMAN POLAK 6’ 0” JAKE GARDINER 6’ 2” ANDREW MACWILLIAM 6’ 2” WEIGHT 187 208 206 212 200 202 195 194 195 188 198 167 202 DATE OF BIRTH 5 DEC 1983 7 FEB 1991 23 SEP 1983 24 NOV 1984 4 MAY 1989 24 MAY 1988 8 FEB 1985 14 JAN 1991 19 MAR 1986 6 OCT 1990 23 JAN 1987 8 MAR 1990 2 OCT 1987 AGE BIRTH PLACE 31 SKELLEFTEÅ, SWE 24 MARTIN, SVK 31 FORT SASKATCHEWAN, AB, CAN 30 DETROIT, MI, USA 25 MIDDLETOWN, NJ, USA 26 TRURO, NS, CAN 30 OTTAWA, ON, CAN 24 TORONTO, ON, CAN 28 REGINA, SK, CAN 24 LONDON, ON, CAN 28 NARVA, EST 25 LOS ANGELES, CA, USA 27 MADISON, WI, USA DEFENCE WEIGHT 216 214 190 216 200 205 236 184 214 DATE OF BIRTH 17 APR 1979 10 APR 1985 3 MAR 1977 3 APR 1989 24 FEB 1991 9 MAR 1994 28 APR 1986 4 JUL 1990 25 MAR 1990 AGE 35 29 38 25 24 21 28 24 24 BIRTH PLACE VERNON, BC, CAN EDMONTON, AB, CAN SHERBROOKE, QC, CAN WILLINGBORO, NJ, USA PORT CHESTER, NY, USA VANCOUVER, BC, CAN OSTRAVA, CZE MINNETONKA, MN, USA CALGARY, AB, CAN AGE 26 26 BIRTH PLACE MORWEENA, MB, CAN LAVAL, QC, CAN GOALTENDERS # NAME 34 JAMES REIMER 45 JONATHAN BERNIER HEIGHT 6’ 2” 6’ 0” WEIGHT 208 185 DATE OF BIRTH 15 MAR 1988 7 AUG 1988 Goaltending Coach................................................ Rick St. Croix Head Athletic Therapist............................................ Paul Ayotte Assistant Athletic Therapist............................... Marty Dudgeon Strength & Conditioning Coach............................Anthony Belza Equipment Manager...........................................Brian Papineau Assistant Equipment Manager.......................... Bobby Hastings Assistant Equipment Manager........................... Tom Blatchford President & Alternate Governor....................Brendan Shanahan Senior Vice President & General Manager................ Dave Nonis Assistant General Manager.......................................Kyle Dubas Senior Advisor........................................................Cliff Fletcher Director of Player Development................................Jim Hughes Assistant Coach................................................. Peter Horachek Assistant Coach....................................................... Steve Spott Assistant Coach.....................................................Chris Dennis EDMONTONOILERS.COM l 33 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY MAPLE LEAFS l STATISTICS # POS PLAYER GP 81 R PHIL KESSEL 6823 2952 -2724 804225 10.20 21 68 L JAMES VAN RIEMSDYK G A 23 25 P +/- 48 -26 PIM STATS AS OF MAR. 13, 2015 35 PP SH GW 8 1 4 S 206 S% 11.20 42 C TYLER BOZAK 6819 2241 -25161123129 14.70 43 C NAZEM KADRI 6416 2036-522 211156 10.30 3 D DION PHANEUF 56 3 22 25 -7 95 2 0 1 105 2.90 44 D MORGAN RIELLY 67 7 17 24 -9 8 1 0 0 119 5.90 24 C PETER HOLLAND 5811 1223 029 113 81 13.60 47 C LEO KOMAROV 49 7 1522 416 011 68 10.30 19 L JOFFREY LUPUL 41 9 1019-326 201 80 11.30 51 D JAKE GARDINER 65 2 1618 -2216 000 882.30 18 R RICHARD PANIK 6210 515-629 101 69 14.50 20 L DAVID BOOTH 45 4 610-325 001 695.80 46 56 D ROMAN POLAK 5 4 9 -22 48 0 0 1 61 8.20 12 D STEPHANE ROBIDAS 521 6 7834 000 342.90 23 C TREVOR SMITH 442 35 -5800 033 6.10 67 R BRANDON KOZUN 132 13 -3200 0 6 33.30 50 D STUART PERCY 90 33 -4200 013 0.00 15 C JOAKIM LINDSTROM 50 11 -3000 0 6 0.00 57 D ANDREW MACWILLIAM 10 1 10 2 000 00.00 32 L JOSH LEIVO 2 D 91 01 -1400 010 10.00 ERIC BREWER 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0.00 40 R TROY BODIE 50 0 00 5 000 10.00 39 R MATT FRATTIN 90 0 00 4 000 60.00 22 C ZACH SILL 80 00 -1700 0 5 0.00 33 D TIM ERIXON 40 00 -4200 0 1 0.00 36 C GREG MCKEGG 20 0 00 0 000 10.00 8 D PETTER GRANBERG 53 C SAM CARRICK 70 0 01 6 000 10.00 100 00 -1200 011 0.00 # GOALIE GPI GS MIN GAA W L OT SO SA GA SV% G A PIM 45JONATHAN BERNIER 48472696 2.80 2021 6 21463 126 .914 0 1 0 34JAMES REIMER 27211396 3.18 714 0 0 780 74 .905 0 0 2 THIS IS OIL COUNTRY l 34 l EDMONTONOILERS.COM OFFICIAL AUTOMOTIVE PARTNER O F T H E ED M O N TO N O I L E R S MEET THE SMARTEST, MOST CAPABLE F-150 EVER With best-in-class towing*, payload* and fuel efficiency** — plus over 100 patents and 11 class-exclusive features including an available 360° Camera† — the game will never be the same again. The All-New 2015 F-150 Vehicle may be shown with optional equipment. The Edmonton Oilers and associated logos are registered trademarks owned by Rexall Sports Corp. and are used under license. All rights reserved. *When properly equipped. Max. towing of 12,200 lbs with 3.5L EcoBoost V6 4x2 Max. payloads of 3,300 lbs/3,270 lbs with 5.0L Ti-VCT V8/3.5L V6 EcoBoost 4x2 engines. Class is Full-Size Pickups under 8,500 lbs GVWR vs. 2014 competitors. **Class is Fullsize Pickups under 8500 lbs (3856 kg) excluding Diesel versus 2014 and 2015 Competitors’ 5-cycle ratings. 2015 F-150 4x2 equipped with the 2.7L V6 EcoBoost® and 6-Speed SelectShift® Automatic Transmission, estimated fuel consumption ratings are 12.2L/100km city, 9.2L/100km hwy, 10.9L/100km combined, based on Government of Canada approved test methods. Actual fuel consumption will vary. †Class is Full-Size Pickups under 8,500 lbs. GVWR. ©2015 Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. All rights reserved. Ford.ca NHL l STANDINGS & LEADERS 2014-15 WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL ST. LOUIS NASHVILLE CHICAGO DIVGP W L OT P ROW GF GA DIFF C 67 43 19 5 91 34 210 167 +43 C69 42 20 79136199168+31 C67 40 21 68631192155+37 HOME AWAY S/O L10STREAK 24-8-2 19-11-3 9-3 6-3-1 WON 3 26-7-1 16-13-6 6-53-7-0LOST 1 21-9-5 19-12-1 9-35-3-2WON 1 PACIFIC DIVGP W L OT P ROW GF GA DIFF HOME AWAY S/O L10STREAK ANAHEIM P69 42 20 79134202192+10 22-10-3 20-10-4 8-56-4-0LOST 3 VANCOUVER P67 38 25 48034189183 +6 18-13-1 20-12-3 4-25-4-1LOST 1 CALGARY P67 37 25 57933197175+22 18-12-3 19-13-2 4-25-3-2WON 1 WILD CARD DIV GP W L OT P ROW GF GA DIFF HOME AWAY S/O L10 STREAK MINNESOTA C67 37 23 78134192170+22 19-9-5 18-14-2 3-28-2-0WON 1 LOS ANGELES P 67 33 21 13 79 31 184 170 +14 21-7-7 12-14-6 2-7 6-3-1 WON 2 WINNIPEG SAN JOSE COLORADO DALLAS ARIZONA EDMONTON C68 33 23127827189185 +4 17-11-5 16-12-7 6-54-4-2LOST 2 P 68 34 26 8 76 31 191 187 +4 17-15-5 17-11-3 3-5 5-5-0 WON 2 C68 31 26117322181191 -10 18-14-3 13-12-8 9-47-3-0WON 1 C68 31 27107228214224 -10 13-13-8 18-14-2 3-34-4-2WON 2 P68 21 39 85016144226 -82 10-19-5 11-20-3 5-51-8-1LOST 1 P68 18 39114713156233 -77 10-20-2 8-19-9 5-52-7-1LOST 3 2014-15 EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC MONTRÉAL TAMPA BAY DETROIT DIVGP W L OT P ROW GF GA DIFF A68 42 19 79136179152+27 A 69 42 20 7 91 40 225 180 +45 A66 37 18118534193175+18 HOME AWAY S/O L10STREAK 22-8-5 20-11-2 6-35-3-2LOST 1 26-6-1 16-14-6 2-5 7-2-1 OT 1 19-7-7 18-11-4 3-95-4-1LOST 1 METRO DIVGP W L OT P ROW GF GA DIFF HOME AWAY S/O L10STREAK NY RANGERS M 66 42 17 7 91 39 203 157 +46 21-7-5 21-10-2 3-5 8-1-1 WON 3 NY ISLANDERS M 69 43 22 4 90 36 219 194 +25 23-10-0 20-12-4 7-3 4-3-3 LOST 1 PITTSBURGHM67 39 18108836195166+29 21-10-3 18-8-7 3-67-2-1WON 1 WILD CARD DIV GP W L OT P ROW GF GA DIFF HOME AWAY S/O L10 STREAK WASHINGTONM68 36 22108233201168+33 19-10-5 17-12-5 3-45-5-0LOST 1 BOSTON A67 35 22108032182173 +9 21-10-5 14-12-5 3-77-2-1WON 4 FLORIDA A67 30 23147423167190 -23 16-10-7 14-13-77-104-4-2WON 2 OTTAWA A66 31 24117327190178+12 16-11-5 15-13-6 4-68-1-1WON 1 PHILADELPHIAM69 28 27147025178198 -20 19-9-6 9-18-8 3-83-4-3 OT 1 NEW JERSEY M 68 28 29 11 67 24 154 178 -24 17-10-8 11-19-3 4-7 5-3-2 OT 1 COLUMBUS M67 29 34 46224173211 -38 12-19-2 17-15-2 5-23-6-1WON 2 TORONTO A68 27 35 66023183212 -29 19-14-1 8-21-5 4-34-5-1WON 1 CAROLINA M66 25 33 85821158183 -25 15-13-4 10-20-4 4-65-4-1LOST 1 BUFFALO A67 19 42 64412129228 -99 12-18-3 7-24-3 7-43-5-2 OT 1 X - CLINCHED PLAYOFF SPOT Y - CLINCHED DIVISION Z - CLINCHED CONFERENCE THIS IS OIL COUNTRY l 36 P - CLINCHED PRESIDENTS TROPHY l EDMONTONOILERS.COM AS OF MAR. 13, 2015 POINTS 1. J. TAVARES, NYI 2. A. OVECHKIN, WSH 3. S. CROSBY, PIT 4. N. BACKSTROM, WSH 5. E. MALKIN, PIT 72 70 70 69 68 GOALS 1. A. OVECHKIN, WSH 2. R. NASH, NYR 3. S. STAMKOS, TBL 4. J. TAVARES, NYI 5. V. TARASENKO, STL 45 39 37 33 33 ASSISTS 1. N. BACKSTROM, WSH 2. S. CROSBY, PIT 3. J. VORACEK, PHI 4. H. SEDIN, VAN 5. D. SEDIN, VAN 51 47 47 45 44 PENALTY MINUTES 1. S. DOWNIE, PIT 2. C. MCLEOD, COL 3. D. DORSETT, VAN 4. T. WILSON, WSH 5. A. ROUSSEL, DAL ROOKIE POINTS 1. F. FORSBERG, NSH 2. J. GAUDREAU, CGY 3. M. STONE, OTT 4. M. HOFFMAN, OTT 5. A. LEE, NYI 197 174 150 145 126 53 50 44 42 38 GOALS AGAINST AVG. 1. C. PRICE, MTL 2. P. RINNE, NSH 3. D. DUBNYK, MIN 4. B. ELLIOT, STL 5. B. HOLTBY, WSH 1.93 2.09 2.11 2.14 2.16 SAVE % 1. C. PRICE, MTL 2. D. DUBNYK, MIN 3. P. RINNE, NSH 4. C. SCHNEIDER, NJD 5. B. HOLTBY, WSH .935 .928 .927 .927 .925 GOALTENDER WINS 1. C. PRICE, MTL 2. P. RINNE, NSH 3. J. HALAK, NYI 4. B. BISHOP, TBL 5. B. HOLTBY, WSH 37 36 34 33 32 UPGraded 6200ca SerIeS The Leader in Ladders Just Stepped it Up. The ladder trusted by professionals for its durability is now loaded with new, advanced features to maximize your productivity. wernerladder.ca AD521 ©2014 Werner Co. 09/14 Earning points for rewards is a score! ‡ MBNA Rewards MasterCard® credit card program Earn points‡ for exclusive OILERS experiences and merchandise as well as cash back, travel, brand-name merchandise and gift cards. Learn more at oilersrewardscard.ca ‡These are highlights of the credit card rewards program (the “Program”) associated with this credit card account. Points will be awarded on eligible transactions charged to your account as set out in the Program terms and conditions. Complete terms and conditions describing Program eligibility, accrual and redemption of points, and other important conditions, limitations and restrictions will be sent after your account is opened. Please read the terms and conditions carefully upon receipt. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. All trade-marks are the property of their respective owners. ® MBNA and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. THIS IS OIL COUNTRY l 38 l EDMONTONOILERS.COM ADVANCE SCOUTING OILERS THIS WEEK Friday, March 6 – The Oilers kick off their five-game road trip in the Windy City and fall 2-1 in OT to the Chicago Blackhawks. Derek Roy picks up the lone goal for the Oil with Nail Yakupov assisting. Ben Scrivens is named the second star of the game after posting 38 saves in the loss. RYAN JOHANSEN Sunday, March 8 – Ryan NugentHopkins nets his first hat-trick of the season versus the Carolina Hurricanes and delivers four points on the night (3G, 1A), but it’s not enough as the Oilers fall 7-4 to the Eastern Conference club. Jordan Eberle also records three points (1G, 2A) in the loss. NICK FOLIGNO EDMONTON OILERS VS COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2015 THE OILERS ARE POISED TO TAKE ON THE COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS, CLOSING OUT THEIR TWO-GAME SEASON SERIES. The Blue Jackets are heading to Rexall Place for their first and only appearance in Oil Country this season and the two clubs are meeting for the second time in six days after facing off on March 13 at Nationwide Arena. Last season, the Oilers and Blue Jackets split the series with the Oilers winning 7-0 at home and losing 4-2 on the road. The Metropolitan Division squad ranks 13th in the East and 25th in the NHL with 62 points (29-34-4) in 67 games. Wednesday’s game will be broadcast at 8:00pm MST on Sportsnet Oilers and the Oilers Radio Network. BLUE JACKETS TO WATCH NICK FOLIGNO was an NHL All-Star team captain back in January and he’s been leading the Blue Jackets this season as well. The 27-year-old left-winger leads the team with 59 points (24G, 35A) and 23 powerplay points (9G, 14A) through 64 games. The Buffalo, New York native has four points in his last five games (1G, 3A) and is in his third season in Ohio after five seasons in Ottawa. Centreman RYAN JOHANSEN ranks second on the team with 57 points (22G, 35A) secured in 67 games this season. The 22-year-old Vancouver, British Columbia product is tied with Foligno for the team lead with 23 powerplay points (7G, 16A). The former Portland Winterhawk (WHL) has been strong on all special team units with two short-handed goals as well. The 6-foot-3, 223-pound forward is in his fourth NHL season. EDMONTONOILERS.COM l 39 l Monday, March 9 – In back-toback games for the Oilers, the club matches up against the Detroit Red Wings, but the Oil fall 5-2 with Scrivens posting 21 saves. Rob Klinkhammer and Yakupov tally for the Oilers with assists coming from Matt Hendricks, Boyd Gordon, Justin Schultz and Eberle. Tuesday, March 10 – The Oilers assign defenceman Jordan Oesterle to the American Hockey League’s Oklahoma City Barons. The 22-yearold appeared in six games for the Oilers and posted his first career NHL point (assist) on March 3 versus the Los Angeles Kings. Thursday, March 12 – The Oilers climb out of a four-goal deficit to tie the game 4-4 in the third period, but eventually fall 6-4 to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first of back-to-back games on the road. Anton Lander, Eberle, Benoit Pouliot and Roy find the back of the net for the club. Roy receives third star of the game honours. Friday, March 13 – The Oilers square off against the Columbus Blue Jackets for the first time at Rexall Place this season, but results are unavailable at Oil Country press time. THIS IS OIL COUNTRY WITH A PAIR OF JANUARY ROSTER MOVES, THE EDMONTON OIL KINGS ADDED TWO MORE PLAYERS FROM THE CAPITAL REGION TO THEIR EVER-GROWING STABLE OF LOCAL TALENT. The Oil Kings called up 16-year-old forward Tyson Gruninger, a Drayton Valley, AB product, to the full-time roster and swung a deadline deal with the Calgary Hitmen for Edmonton native Marshall Donald, meaning 13 of the 24 players on the Oil Kings roster hail from the Edmonton region. “It’s nuts. You grow up playing hockey and you grow up watching the Oil Kings and Oilers play, so being able to play in the building and wear those colours every night is pretty amazing,” Donald said. “It’s pretty surreal when you come out of that tunnel.” Donald, Aaron Irving, Cole Benson and Garan Magnes call Edmonton home, while Brett Pollock, Ben Carroll and Tyler Robertson are from Sherwood Park. Patrick Dea and Jake Kohlhauser are St. Albert natives, while Brandon Ralph (Ft. Saskatchewan), Brandon Baddock (Vermillion), Andrew Koep (Lloydminster) and Gruninger are also from the area. “We’ve been fortunate to be able to draft and acquire a lot of talent from the Edmonton area,” said Oil Kings general manager Randy Hansch. “We look all over Western Canada and the United States for our future prospects, and it’s a testament to the strength on Edmonton Minor Hockey that those programs have been able to develop so many players that can compete at the major junior level. “We certainly value the connection our local players bring. They’re very eager to be involved and give back to the communities that raised them.” Having so many Edmonton-area players also means many of those players have longstanding relationships with one another. Donald was a teammate of Carroll’s with the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the AJHL for two years, for example, while others were long-time rivals. “Playing with and against some of the guys I play with now creates a different bond, for sure. It’s definitely brought me a lot closer to some of the guys I never thought I’d be friends with,” Irving said. “Brandon Ralph, I always remember hating to play Brandon Ralph. He was always a pest out there on the ice. “Sometimes we joke about some of the things that went on, like in Bantam, Brett Pollock and I got into a little scrum and almost got into a fight, and I remember he got the only penalty, and it’s pretty funny looking back on those times now.” The Oil Kings suit up for their final regular season home game on Friday, March 20 at 7 p.m. against the Red Deer Rebels at Rexall Place. With playoff seeding still yet to be decided, it’s a last chance for Edmonton to pick up two points on friendly ground. UPCOMING GAME: FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 7 P.M. Oil Kings vs. Red Deer Rebels FINAL REGULAR SEASON HOME GAME 8TICKET FLEX PACK $169 PACKAGE INCLUDES: PRESENTED BY • 8 tickets you can use at any time in the regular season. CANADIAN TIRE • $10 gift certificate to Canadian Tire. • Load up on weekend games or take all your friends to one game… it’s your choice. The ultimate in flexibility. Save up to $47 off ‘day of game’ pricing. oilkings.ca R THIS IS OIL COUNTRY l l 4040 l l EDMONTONOILERS.COM EDMONTONOILERS.COM THIS IS OIL COUNTRY 780.414.GOAL (4625) By Cait MacPhail DEVELOPING THE D-MAN T his coming June will mark four years since Swedish defenceman Oscar Klefbom heard his name called at the 2011 NHL Draft in St. Paul, Minnesota. EDMONTONOILERS.COM continued on page 42 l 41 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY Championship. He scored one goal and tacked on three assists for four points in six games and went on to be named one of Sweden’s top three players in the tournament. With it being the season just ahead of his draft year, North American scouts definitely started to take notice of the gifted two-way blueliner with the solid upside of leadership capabilities. The Edmonton Oilers had already chosen Ryan NugentHopkins first overall and later stepped to the podium to announce a second first-round choice with a pick obtained from Los Angeles in the Dustin Penner trade. Klefbom’s name was called in the 19th spot and he slipped the Oilers jersey over his head for the first time as an official prospect of the organization. And the Oilers clearly liked what they saw as well. Having struggled with cementing a solid back end in previous years, the club viewed the young Swede as a potential future star. Since that fateful day in Minnesota, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound blueliner has taken the path less traveled by most highlytouted recent first-rounders in the Oilers organization – a path that has proven successful thus far in the development of the young defenceman. After drafting Klefbom 19th overall, Oilers management commented on the new acquisition. Klefbom first broke into the ranks of the Swedish Elite League as a 17 year old with the Farjestad organization during the 2010-11 season. That year also saw Klefbom captain Sweden’s silver-medal team at the 2011 IIHF U-18 World THIS IS OIL COUNTRY l 42 “He’s a big man and a great skater. He can play against speed, he can play against size, he has a great stick and he’s very competitive. Maybe even more important for us is that he brings an element of leadership. It’s been asked if he’s ready l EDMONTONOILERS.COM for the NHL and I don’t think we need to answer that just yet. If he’s ready in a year or if he’s ready sooner, we don’t feel we need to rush this young man.” It was that decision to not rush the young blueliner that would play so crucial into his journey of successfully developing into a competitive top-four defenceman at the NHL level. The 2011-12 season would see Klefbom continue to work his way into the lineup with Farjestad in Sweden. It was that year that Klefbom would once again get the opportunity to showcase his talents on the international stage, suiting up for Sweden at the 2012 World Junior Championship. Moreover, he would be on display right in front of his prospective NHL club as the Juniors hit the ice in the host cities of Edmonton and Calgary – and he didn’t fail to impress. The big D-man would go +8 with a goal and an assist enroute to a gold medal when the Swedes handed Russia a 1-0 decision in the championship game in Calgary. The kid was looking good and the Oilers must have thought so too, because in June of 2012 they signed him to a three-year, entrylevel deal. It was another huge step closer to what Kelfbom considered his main goal. “It’s the biggest day of my life. It’s really a dream come true,” he said nervously at the time when asked about the emotions involved with inking his first NHL deal. “Edmonton is a great organization with a lot of proud history behind it. It feels really good.” It looked like Klefbom was getting close to making his NHL debut, but in the interest of sticking to his slow and steady development plan, Klefbom was set to play another season back in Sweden before joining the Oilers organization in 2013-14. Both Klefbom and the Oilers were understandably eager to see him in orange and blue, but ultimately opted to keep him at home for another campaign. “I don’t want to come over and feel like I’m not ready,” Klefbom said of the decision. “I think Farjestad is a really good opportunity for me to be a really good player.” continued on page 45 EDMONTONOILERS.COM l 43 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY Primco Dene royal camP ServiceS lP providing workforce housing and catering in remote locations we offer priority employment for aboriginal workers, as well as others looking for a secure satisfying career. a great salary and workplace is waiting for you. check out www.royalcamp.com for details. Don’t think Job…. think career. RoyalCamp2013.indd 1 13-08-21 9:25 AM THIS IS OIL COUNTRY l 44 l EDMONTONOILERS.COM Like any true success story, Klefbom’s didn’t come without a few bumps along the road. He ended up playing just 11 games during the 2012-13 campaign before a season-ending shoulder injury threw a wrench into his development plan. He would spend the latter half of the season rehabilitating his shoulder in Edmonton, but he managed to find the upside to some poor circumstances. “I try to see everything positively. I got the ability to come to Edmonton and meet all the coaching staff and all the trainers to get to know them. I think that made the transition easier when I finally got here,” Klefbom said of his rehab in Edmonton. After a long road to recovery, Klefbom was looking like he was finally ready to make that leap to the North American game. But there would be a couple more hurdles to jump. He was sent to the AHL with the Oklahoma City Barons to gauge what level he was at after his previous season was cut short. “When we first got Oscar, he had not played the whole previous season,” said then Barons Head Coach Todd Nelson, now the Oilers interim bench boss. “There is always a bigger adjustment for European players coming over to North America.” And despite being very confident in the young man’s ability, Nelson admitted there were some growing pains. “His first three months in OKC were really up and down. He struggled some nights and some nights he prospered,” said Nelson. “But that’s what you see down there. You see players trying to develop their game and he really benefited from being down and definitely gained confidence.” It seemed that some time in the minors was exactly the type of transition phase the big Swede needed. Klefbom’s hard work paid off with his NHL debut on March 11, 2014 after being recalled from OKC near the end of the season. continued on page 47 EDMONTONOILERS.COM l 45 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY He went on to finish the season with the big club, making 17 appearances and even notching his first NHL goal on March 28, 2014 against the Anaheim Ducks. The goal was a microcosm of his NHL capabilities, as he showed some offensive prowess after gliding into the slot, corralling a quick pass from David Perron and snapping a precision shot past Jonas Hiller. Despite a strong showing during his first crack at the big leagues, Klefbom would have to show a little bit more patience and maturity as he wasn’t given a roster spot with the Oilers at the beginning of the 2014-15 season. As it would turn out, though, he was even closer than it seemed. Klefbom started the season with the OKC Barons and put up some impressive numbers right out of the gate, indicating his days just might be numbered on the farm. Klefbom, who had eight points and a +10 rating in nine games with OKC, was recalled in November and his play since has proven he might just be ready to stay in the show for good – especially given what Nelson felt about what he was seeing. “This year, he spent some more time in Oklahoma City and you saw him develop a little more confidence. Right now I think we’re seeing a good, young defenceman that’s going to be a good defenceman for quite a while in the National Hockey League,” he said. “I like the way that he’s progressing. He wouldn’t have gotten to this point if he did not spend that time in the minors.” The journey from his draft day to this season has been long and certainly full of challenges, but the young man is feeling as confident in himself as his coach is and said the history between the two has helped his cause. “Todd knows what he can expect from me as a player so I don’t feel like I have any pressure on me with him,” Klefbom said. “I have a lot of confidence on the ice and it’s fun to play. I just try to enjoy every day up here and it feels good.” The organization’s plan to not rush the young defenceman, dating back to his draft day almost four years ago, is proving to be the recipe for success. Both player and team have stayed the course and Klefbom has shown lately what the Oilers had hoped for all along. He has solid breakout capabilities, he is very strong in the corners, he has the ability to play big minutes and his offensive game has shown progression. This, all coming before the defenceman has seen a full season at the NHL level. Klefbom, the Oilers and the fans are right to be excited about the future of this young D-man. EDMONTONOILERS.COM l 47 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY TM Roam NOW YOUR SHARE EVERYTHING PLAN COVERS THE U.S. WITH ROAM LIKE HOME ™ ™ JUST $5/DAY * WHEN ROAMING IN U.S. Go ahead, use the data and unlimited talk and text from your Share Everything Plan in the U.S. just like you would at home. You’ll only be charged for the days when you use your phone in the U.S. To learn more, visit rogers.com/roamlikehome. TM Roam with Rogers. Text “travel” to 222 to enroll *Taxes extra. Roam Like Home daily fee is a pay-per-use rate and subject to change without notice. Fee is charged per line (in addition to your Share Everything Plan monthly service fee) and applies for 24 hours from first use while in the U.S. See rogers.com/roamlikehome for full terms and conditions. © 2015 Rogers Communications. GREEN SPORTS ALLIANCE GIVES ROGERS PLACE TWO (GREEN) THUMBS UP First LEED-Silver NHL facility in Canada By Kelsey Spohn There’s no doubt that the future looks bright for Rogers Place, the soon-to-be home of the Edmonton Oilers (NHL) and the Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL), with its doors slated to open for the 2016-17 season. With the new arena’s construction in full swing and things looking up, literally, the project is also trailblazing in all-things ‘green’. Rogers Place, in the heart of downtown Edmonton, will be the first LEED Silver-certified NHL facility in Canada. This stateof-the-art facility will act as a catalyst to the city’s downtown core while also setting the bar for future growth and sustainability. It’s certainly the golden age of stadium sustainability all over the world as there has been an explosion of interest in green building design in the last few years. Globally, stadiums are incorporating environmental intelligent operations into their design right from the start. Despite this, being LEED-certified is a rare feat, with only 20 stadiums or arenas meeting this standard in professional sports. “Being LEED-Silver certified establishes Rogers Place as one of the leading environmental venues in North America and around the world. There aren’t even two dozen professional sports venues that are LEED-certified so it’s quite the achievement,” said Dr. Allen Hershkowitz, President and Co-founder, Green Sports Alliance. “It’s a confirmation of smart operations. It’s a confirmation that Rogers Place is committed to a healthy community and Edmonton’s future generations.” Dr. Allen Hershkowitz, formerly a 26-year Senior Scientist at the Natural Resources Defence Council in the United States, is renowned in the green community for his work as co-founder of the Green Sports Alliance, a non-profit that helps sports teams, leagues and venues enhance their environmental stewardship, as well as his role in co-founding NHL Green in 2008 alongside NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. He serves as the NHL’s principal environmental advisor and has been involved in a number of EDMONTONOILERS.COM l stadium operation projects. Dr. Hershkowitz emphasises that being LEED-Silver sends a strong message across pro sports and to your fan base. Of course, he hopes that more NHL teams will look to Rogers Place when it’s time for new arenas in their respective cities. Beyond waste reduction, Rogers Place’s LEED-Silver certification will be anchored by other sustainable efficiencies including development density, transportation, reducing water use and optimizing energy performance. Extensive energy modelling will be in place to reduce overall energy consumption and focus on efficiency. To reduce its carbon footprint, there will be heat recovery ventilation and central control of heating, cooling and lighting systems. Going above standard requirements, Rogers Place will have a highly insulated building envelope as well. With Rogers Place located in an energy-producing province, environmental excellence is a key pillar for both Rogers Place and its partner, the City of Edmonton. The City of Edmonton mandates that all City-owned facilities, including Rogers Place, are LEED certified. They are championing green initiatives while also looking to break out as the premier sports and entertainment facility in North America. A testament echoed by Dr. Hershkowitz. “Rogers Place is a beautiful design and it’s confirming the fact that you can have beautiful, cutting-edge design and environmental efficiency working together.” There’s no denying that Rogers Place will be an architectural gem in the downtown core with its modern design and world-class amenities, but its environmental stewardship will help ensure fans and the City of Edmonton have a premier facility to appreciate well into the future. 49 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY EARN YOUR STRIPES. Want a successful career? Then join a successful company. Brandt has exciting opportunities available for you right now in Service, Parts, Sales, Positioning Technology, and more. Visit our website for complete details. brandtjobs.com When it comes to valves… PRISM scores goals! www.prismflow.com (780) 450-9444 THIS IS OIL COUNTRY l 50 l EDMONTONOILERS.COM ALUMNI CONNECTION T ANDY MOOG and what they’re doing was probably the most enjoyable part of the week and celebration for me. HE OILERS 132ND OVERALL PICK IN THE 1980 NHL DRAFT, ANDY MOOG spent seven seasons in Oil Country. Moog is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, winning with the Oilers in 1984, 1985 and 1987. Traded to the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline of the 1987-88 season, Moog earned the 1989–90 William M. Jennings Trophy for fewest total goals against during the regular season, sharing the trophy with his Bruins goaltending partner, Reggie Lemelin. Moog’s NHL career spanned 18 years, playing between the pipes for the Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens as well. What is your favourite memory from your first career Stanley Cup win with the Oilers in 1983-84? Getting the chance to play after Grant Fuhr was injured was probably the highlight for me – of course not his injury, but being able to contribute more was special. I had gone through the year before on my own and we lost to the Islanders. If anything at all, just being part of it and being able to contribute was huge – that’s something as a player that you always want to do and so playing in that series was extremely rewarding. On October 10, 2014, Oil Country celebrated the 1984 Stanley Cup Champions Legacy Reunion. What did the experience mean to you? I really enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect with all of my teammates, staff and people that I hadn’t seen in a long, long time. Those championships will always be ours and we all have the fondest memories from that time in Edmonton, but reconnecting with some of the people and some of the characters on the team and finding out where they are now Who had the hardest shot to stop in the League? The most difficult shot for me to handle was Mike Bossy’s (New York Islanders) for sure. He was one of those guys who knew how to get in a position to shoot and took no time when it was time for him to shoot. He probably offered up the hardest and biggest challenge for me as a goalie. You hung up the pads and retired in 1998 after playing for 18 years in the NHL. What do you miss the most? The instant and always available network of teammates and friends. I definitely miss the social side of the game to be honest. Back then, every day when you woke up and went to the rink, there was a group of guys there waiting to hang out and that felt pretty cool to have that network there every day of your hockey season. You’re currently working in Dallas as the Goaltender Development Coach for both the Dallas Stars and Texas Stars. What’s the most important lesson you try to pass on to young players in their system? I guess if there was one aspect of the game that I would relate to any goaltender attempting to have a career as a professional, I would tell them that they have to stay in the moment – where you are and what you’re doing is the most important thing you can do for the development of your career and if you’re the type of player that’s thinking ahead to where you should be in two months, two years or four years then you’re going to be at a disadvantage. The ones who can stay focused no matter where they are, who they are playing against or what time of year it is are the ones that develop their career best. EDMONTONOILERS.COM l 51 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY 1-877-960-9790 780-791-9222 26, 53016 Highway #60 Zone 3, Acheson, AB 135 MacKay Crescent Fort McMurray, AB 780-826-8970 Box 8131, 61428 Range Rd 452 Bonnyville, AB 403-346-4329 120, 7445-45 Ave. Close Red Deer, AB 403-279-9234 8989, 40 St. S.E. Calgary, AB Providing Construction & Maintenance Solutions to western Canada’s Energy Industry 780.436.9570 THIS IS OIL COUNTRY www.chemco.com l 52 l EDMONTONOILERS.COM CONDORS HERE TO STAY Chris Wescott As the old adage goes: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. As Bakersfield is set to become the Oilers new American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate next season, they do so as the Condors. Following an announcement on January 29, 2015 that Bakersfield will be part of a brand-new Pacific Division of the AHL, the California team quickly got to work, asking for submissions for a ‘Name the AHL Team’ contest. continued on page 54 EDMONTONOILERS.COM l 53 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY While there was once a team called the Bakersfield Oilers in the 1940s, Bakersfield has since come to be known as ‘Condorstown’, home of one of the most fun franchises in professional hockey. Known for their unique promotions and marketing antics, the Condors have been featured on various news networks and entertainment shows in the United States. It’s not just a marketing campaign, the ‘Condors way’ is a lifestyle. A fter receiving over 1,000 submissions and 100 unique name suggestions from fans, with some very strong contenders in the fold, the old idiom above seemed to ring true as fans voted loud and clear to keep the storied Condors name. “Fans had a lot of fun with it, we had a lot of fun with it and I think we got a pretty good sense and a pretty good feel of what people wanted to do,” said Condors President Matthew Riley. “The Condors have a great legacy in the community of Bakersfield and a great reputation in minor hockey for their creative and fun, family-oriented atmosphere at the Rabobank Arena,” said Oilers Entertainment Group Vice Chair Kevin Lowe. “What better way to build a strong future in the AHL Pacific Division than to build off the great Condors brand.” THIS IS OIL COUNTRY l 54 “There is never a boring day and it’s 24/7, 365 days,” Riley said. “No ideas are dumb and even if they don’t work, they might be birdseed for other ideas. You keep throwing them up to the wall and eventually some things stick. Some of them work, some of them don’t but you have a lot of fun trying.” Gettysburg Address, The Hobbit and Fifty Shades of Grey themed jerseys, Charlie Sheen and Seinfeld Nights, and offering Justin Bieber a contract are just a few of their famed in-game promotions. One of their most memorable moments, however, came when they brought a live Condor on the ice during the National Anthem on February 8, 2013. The bird elicited many laughs from fans and even garnered international coverage when it decided to take off on its handler, roaming the ice and players bench pre-game. On the more serious side of things, the Condors have won 25 front office awards from the ECHL as well as three Beautiful Bakersfield Humanitarian Awards for their efforts in the community. The club has been extremely supportive of the l EDMONTONOILERS.COM community and the city, raising over $4.6 million in cash and goods for non-profits in Bakersfield and Kern County. Beginning in 2015-16, five NHL teams will relocate their affiliates to California. Along with Bakersfield, San Diego (Anaheim Ducks), Stockton (Calgary Flames), Ontario (Los Angeles Kings) and San Jose (San Jose Sharks) will each have teams in the new Pacific Division. “The organization is really excited about the move,” said Oilers Assistant General Manager Bill Scott. “When we purchased Bakersfield last January, we knew that this was a possibility. We knew the wheels were in motion by some other NHL teams to move their AHL clubs out west. practice time and workout time for our guys, cut back on the games a little bit and really focus on the one-on-one individual skills. We think there’s a huge benefit in going out west and we should see some dividends from it down the road.” The Barons closest opponent was close to six hours away, in Cedar Park, Texas. With five teams in close proximity to one another, the Oilers estimate between 20 to 25 extra practice days in Bakersfield. There may be less games in the schedule for the Pacific Division as well. continued on page 57 “We were very happy in Oklahoma City, we had a great experience there but we came to the decision with Prodigal (the Oklahoma City Barons operating company) to mutually part ways at the end of our term this year. For us, we were at least mentally set up that if we weren’t able to return to Oklahoma City that we’d have a great place to play in Bakersfield and really be a linchpin in that AHL division with two teams to the south and two teams to the north of us.” In addition to helping grow hockey in California, the Oilers are hopeful the Condors will help continue the development model they built in Oklahoma City. “We feel really good about moving our operations out there, moving our staff out there and players,” said Scott. “It’s going to really allow us to grow our development program given more EDMONTONOILERS.COM l 55 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY Keeping safety top of mind, 24/7 In a split second, Jason’s morning commute turned into a life or death situation. A truck had hit a semi-trailer just outside of Lloydminster and left a father pinned inside while his 10 year-old son escaped through the back window and flames erupted and spread toward the fuel tank. Quick thinking and Devon safety training took over. Jason extinguished the flames and kept the father calm until the emergency crews arrived. At Devon Canada, we’re focused on energy and committed to safety. Find out more at commitmentrunsdeep.ca Commitment Runs Deep made with glass and the dasher board system,” said Riley. “Then down in the locker room we’re expanding it and adding on to it. Obviously, the Oilers want to get their players up and prepared a certain way to be world-class athletes. There are certain things that come with that so we’re in the process of working with local contractors and architects, the City and AEG – our landlord along with the City – to bring all that to a reality. It’s a huge project. It’s transitioning from one league to another and all that comes with it.” “You think about adding another month of development for your team,” said Scott. “That’s an asset to have in your schedule for your players. We see it as an advantage and a huge opportunity for our guys to get better.” “There’s more time to be on ice and be specific about deficiencies in young players’ games that they can work on,” added Lowe. “You can give them one-on-one drills where they can hone their skills. That’s been lacking due to the amount of games they play in the current league.” In order to ensure development with their young prospects, the Oilers and the Condors are working on making alterations to the facilities in Bakersfield. The Condors play out of Rabobank Arena which broke ground in 1997. The city and the team are working towards upgrades to help the arena be AHL ready by next season. “A number of things are going on and they’re obviously still in the embryonic stages, but we need to get some adjustments EDMONTONOILERS.COM l While changes to both the arena and the hockey club are being made in preparation for next season, fans can be assured the core of the Condors will remain the same. “We’re not going to change anything on the business side of it,” said Scott. “We want to continue to bring a winning product to our AHL city, we want to have great crowds, great fans, which they’ve already done a nice job with in Bakersfield with their ECHL team. And we think that’s only going to grow with the AHL being there with a better level of hockey and also having a lot of California rivalries in there. It’s going to be great for hockey in the state of California.” So what should we expect from these old-new Condors in the coming years? “The Oilers have allowed us to still have our autonomy, but also offer the resources and support that they can offer,” said Riley. “It’s really been fantastic and nothing but bigger and better to come.” 57 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY THIS IS OIL COUNTRY l 58 l EDMONTONOILERS.COM Whether you’ve driven down 104 Avenue or just checked out the Live View cameras on RogersPlace.com, you will have noticed a lot of action happening in the heart of Edmonton’s downtown. Rogers Place, Edmonton’s new downtown arena, is on course to open its doors for the 2016-17 NHL season. Find out how much you know about the future home of the Oilers. 3 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 DOWN ACROSS 1 The _________ will be the main entrance for the arena, spanning 104 Avenue 3 Rogers Place broke ground in ________ of 2014 5 9,000 tonnes of structural _________ will be used in Rogers Place construction 2 Rogers Place is being built by Edmonton-based ________ Construction 7 The ___________ will act as home ice for the MacEwan University hockey teams 4 The average width of the main __________ will be 39 feet 10 Rogers Place will be the first LEED _______ certified NHL facility in Canada 6 The Edmonton Arena District announced __________ as the cinema partner for the district 12 52 per cent of seats will be in the ________ bowl 8 Rogers Place is ________ by the City of Edmonton 9 A 50-plus storey tower in the Arena District will house the new four-star _______ Hotel, comprised of 362 rooms Answers on page 62 11 Rogers Place will have 1,116 ________ seats EDMONTONOILERS.COM l 59 l THIS IS OIL COUNTRY 2014-15 SEASON SCHEDULE ABBREVIATIONS ANA - Anaheim ARZ - Arizona MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 SUN MON TUE 7 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 WPG 25 26 27 CGY TBD CGY 6:00 pm 6:00 pm 28 CHI 29 WPG SUN MON 30 4 5 6 NYI SNW SAT 3 WED THU 2 SN360 FRI 3 4 VAN 7 8 9 SN360 10 11 VAN CGY 14 SN360 15 SNW 16 LAK ARZ 8:00 pm 12 13 17 SNO 18 VAN 19 20 SNW 21 TBL 22 SN1/360 23 WSH 24 SNW 25 CAR 27 SN1 28 MTL 29 SN1/360 30 NSH 31 8:30 pm 8:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm SUN MON 7:30 pm 7:30 pm 15 SNW 16 TBL 17 SNW FLA 18 20 SNW 21 WSH 22 24 27 SNO 28 MIN 29 SNO 30 BUF 5:00 pm 6:00 pm 19 26 1 MON 2 TUE 3 SNO SJS WED 8 9 SNO 5 6 PHI FRI 10 BOS 23 25 SNW 26 DAL 19 SN 20 VAN 10 NYI 15 16 SNO 17 WPG 22 23 SNW 2 8 MON TUE 2 3 SJS 15 21 SNW 22 HNIC NJD CHI THU SN/SN1 4 FRI SNW SJS 5 SNW SNW 9 CAR 10 SNW 28 HNIC STL 5 15 6 7:30 pm 18 SN360 19 SJS 20 21 SNW 22 DAL 23 SNW 24 ARZ 25 27 HNIC CGY 28 30 SNW 31 SN LAK CGY 8:30 pm 26 7 FLA - Florida LAK - Los Angeles MIN - Minnesota MTL - Montreal NJD - New Jersey NSH - Nashville 16 SNW 17 TOR 18 SN 19 CBJ 20 23 SNW 24 WPG 25 SN 26 COL 27 SN1 28 DAL 8:00 pm PHI - Philadelphia 21 HNIC PHI 8:00 pm 6:00 pm TOR - Toronto MON TUE WED 1 SNW THU 2 SNW FRI 3 LAK 6 7 SNW 8 LAK 9 SN360 4 HNIC CGY 10 SJS 7:30 pm SAT 7:30 pm 8:00 pm WPG - Winnipeg WSH - Washington 8:00 pm 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 7:30 pm 7:30 pm All game times and stations are subject to change. Check EdmontonOilers.com for the latest schedule. l 60 l HOME VAN - Vancouver 11 HNIC VAN 8:00 pm THIS IS OIL COUNTRY SJS - San Jose TBL - Tampa Bay 7:00 pm 5 PIT - Pittsburgh STL - St. Louis 7:30 pm 30 SN1 31 COL SUN NYR - NY Rangers OTT - Ottawa 6:30 pm 12 SNW 13 SNO 14 PIT CBJ 5:00 pm 5:00 pm 7:30 pm 29 SN1 SAT CHI DET 7:30 pm 22 FRI 8:00 pm 8:30 pm 12 SNW 13 ANA 16 SNW 17 ARZ 6:00 pm 4 THU ANA 10 SNW 11 ANA 7:00 pm WED 11 6 14 SNW 15 NYR 29 27 8:00 pm 1:00 pm 5:30 pm SAT 8:30 pm 8:00 pm 4:00 pm 7:00 pm 5:00 pm 26 7:30 pm 8 7:30 pm 8:00 pm 7:00 pm 7:30 pm 14 OTT 12:00 pm 20 SNO 21 HNIC MIN ANA LAK 7:00 pm 9 13 HNIC 5:30 pm 8:00 pm WPG 7:30 pm SNW HNIC TOR 12 MTL 24 SNO 25 MIN DET - Detroit 7 6:00 pm 6:00 pm 6:00 pm WED 3 ARZ 7 11 DAL - Dallas SAT 5:00 pm SNW 18 SN 19 BOS 6:00 pm 1 27 SN360 28 SNW 29 NSH STL 6:30 pm TUE 8 7:30 pm 6:00 pm MON 6 COL - Colorado 8:00 pm FRI PIT SNW NJD SUN CBC BUF 13 SNO 14 OTT 7:00 pm 1 SNW 11 SNW 12 NSH 18 24 7 5:00 pm 5:00 pm 16 SNW 17 ARZ SUN SN360 5:00 pm 6:00 pm 30 5 CGY - Calgary CHI - Chicago 31 HNIC CGY 6:00 pm SNW 5:00 pm 5:00 pm SAT APRIL 2015 SNW NYR 4:00 pm SN THU CBJ - Columbus NYI - NY Islanders THU MARCH 2015 4 5:00 pm 23 7:30 pm WED 4 8:30 pm 8:00 pm 9 5:30 pm 5:00 pm VAN 3 7:30 pm 8:00 pm TUE 1 2 CAR - Carolina 10 CHI 7:30 pm VAN CBC 9 BOS - Boston BUF - Buffalo 13 SNW 14 STL SUN SN1 8:00 pm 7:30 pm 26 8 SNW 7:30 pm SAT FEBRUARY 2015 6 7 DET 7:30 pm TUE 7:00 pm 7:00 pm 5 SNW 11 CITY 12 FLA 25 ARZ OCTOBER 2014 FRI 2 COL 1 NOVEMBER 2014 THU 7:00 pm SNW 4:00 pm 7:00 pm DECEMBER 2014 WED 1 JANUARY 2015 SEPTEMBER 2014 SUN AWAY EDMONTONOILERS.COM SN Televised on Sportsnet SNW Televised on Sportsnet West SNO Televised on Sportsnet Oilers SN1 Televised on Sportsnet ONE SN360Televised on Sportsnet 360 HNIC Televised on Hockey Night in Canada CITY Televised on CITY TV All games heard on the Oilers Radio Network A PROUD SUPPORTER OF ALL HOCKEY IN OIL COUNTRY. PROVIDING END-TO-END PRINT SOLUTIONS 780.486.1199 OFFICIAL PRINTER OF THE EDMONTON OILERS rrd.com TIME OUT SOLUTION 3 4 M A R C O N C 7 C O U R 10 S E 1 W I H N 5 S T E E E 6 R C M M U N I T Y R I G N 9 D A E 11 I L V E R R P 12 O L D L G T E E E A N X (PAGE 59) 2 P C L N K 8 O W N O W E R D SCORE A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP USE THE CODE “OILFAN” FOR DISCOUNTED GAME DAY RATES VISIT NOVAHOTELS.CA TO BOOK YOUR STAY TODAY! EDMONTON • ACHESON • EDSON • FT MCMURRAY HINTON • PEACE RIVER • KINDERSLEY • INUVIK THIS IS OIL COUNTRY l 62 l EDMONTONOILERS.COM OFFICIAL AUTOMOTIVE PARTNER O F T H E E D M O N TO N O I L E R S Best-in-Class 440 HP* For the big jobs that need a real power player, turn to the Ford Super Duty. With Best in Class 31,200 lbs max towing† and Best in Class 440 HP*, Canada’s Best Selling Work Truck** has the stats you need to get the job done. The Ford F-250 Super Duty Vehicle may be shown with optional equipment. The Edmonton Oilers and associated logos are registered trademarks owned by Rexall Sports Corp. and are used under license. All rights reserved. *Class is Full-Size Pickups over 8,500 lbs. GVWR vs. 2014/2015 competitors. Max. horsepower of 440 and max. torque of 860 lb-ft on 2015 F-250/F-350 with available 6.7L Power Stroke® V8 diesel engine. Maximum towing capacity of 31,200 lbs., when properly equipped. Best-in-class diesel fuel consumption: Class is Full-Size Pickups over 3,856 kg (8,500 lbs) GVWR. Based on Ford simulated city-suburban drive-cycle tests of comparably equipped 2015 Ford and 2011–2013 competitive models, consistent with SAE Standard J1321. Actual fuel consumption will vary. **Based on IHS Automotive: Polk Canadian Total New Registration data for vehicles over 8000 lbs for January 2013 – February 2014. ©2014 Ford Motor Company of Canada,Limited. All rights reserved. Ford.ca THIS IS OIL COUNTRY l 64 l EDMONTONOILERS.COM OFFICIAL AUTOMOTIVE PARTNER O F T H E ED M O N TO N O I L E R S MEET THE FUTURE OF TOUGH With its military-grade, high-strength, aluminum-alloy body and bed, the 2015 F-150 is 700lbs lighter* and every ounce tougher. So with less of its own weight it can haul more of yours. The All-New 2015 F-150 Vehicle may be shown with optional equipment. The Edmonton Oilers and associated logos are registered trademarks owned by Rexall Sports Corp. and are used under license. All rights reserved. *EPA curb weight, versus predecessor model. ©2015 Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. All rights reserved. Ford.ca The 5th Season.™ When teammates become best mates. We’re proud to support over 5,000 community hockey teams across Canada. The 5th Season is the hockey season. It’s when kids learn the value of working hard and enjoy the camaraderie of being part of a team. That’s why we sponsor so many teams at the community level. So that more players grow up to support each other, and learn all of hockey’s valuable lessons. #The5thSeason www.scotiabank.com/the5thseason ®* Registered trademarks of The Bank of Nova Scotia. NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. © NHL 2014. All Rights Reserved. TM Trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia. DIEHARD FAN AND PROUD PARTNER OF THE OILERS #ANYTHINGFORHOCKEY The Edmonton Oilers and associated logos are registered trademarks owned by Rexall Sports Corp. and are used under license. All rights reserved. Must be legal drinking age. Molson Canadian Edmonton Oilers Widemouth Bottles available at participating stores for a limited time only. While supplies last. TM
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