Making History
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Lethbridge, AB - The Edmonton Oil Kings had a wild first period before totalling a modern franchise record of 10 goals in game as the Kings cruised to a 10-3 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Wednesday night in Lethbridge. This track meet started early as the Hurricanes drew first blood just 2 minutes in on their first power play of the night with a wrister from Brody Sutter. But Edmonton was quick to respond as four minutes later Michael St. Croix broke down the left side on a 2 on 1 and roofed a shot short side for the equalizer. Just two minutes later and Latvian forward Kristians Pelss stormed in and used his speed to create a partial break away before wiring a shot that picked the top corner for his team leading 11th of the season. The first period action kept on coming as the Hurricanes came right back to tie the game 2-2 again off the stick of Sutter with under six minutes left in the first. This sparked a late flurry of scoring as just 11 second later, over age Josh Lazowski took a nice feed off a drop pass from St.Croix and wristed home his 4th of the season from the top of the slot. Just over a minute later over ager Rhett Rachinski was rewarded for his hard work as he drove the puck to the net before making a feed behind the Canes goaltender for Klarc Wilson to make it a 4-2 game. Still in the first the Hurricanes would not go away quietly as Jay Merkley spun in the slot and scored to make it a 4-3 game before Griffin Reinhart blasted home a shot from the blue line for a power play goal in the dying minutes of the first to make it 5-3 going into the break.
Things settled down after a wild first period as both teams dialed up the defense but the Oil Kings attack continued to pay dividends. Just past the midway point of the period when St.Croix took a smart feed from Mitch Moroz crossing the line, beat his man outside and cut across the front of the net with a nice deke to tally his second of the night. Late in the period and in a night with a ot of pretty goals it was 20 year old Jordan Peddle who made the highlight reel as he put on a great couple moves before roofing a backhand to make it a 7-3 game.
The third would see a new goaltender for the Canes but much of the same result as 16 year old rookie Curtis Lazar showed off his NHL shot and wired home his eighth of the season to make it an 8-3 game. After a night of pretty goals St.Croix would find an ugly one as he tossed an odd angle shot on net that was deflected by the defender to tally his hat trick goal and give the Oil Kings a 9-3 lead. Edmonton finally made it an even 10 as Keegan Lowe put a shot on that Mitch Moroz tapped home to put the Oil Kings into double digits for the first time in modern franchise history.
St. Croix would finish his night with five points while Oil Kings goaltender Laurent Brossoit held things down after the first period totalling up 23 saves on the night. Laurent Brossoit made 23 saves in the win which raised the Oil Kings record to 13-8-1-2, seventh in the WHL's Eastern Conference. The power play was 2 for 5 on the night while holding the Oil Kings to 1 for 4 with the man advantage as Edmonton outshot the Hurricanes 41-26. The Kings ten goal total set a new modern era franchise record for goals scored in a game.
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The Oil Kings will now return to Rexall Place for the first of 11 straight games at home on Friday as they welcome NHL first round pick Emerson Etem and the Medicine Hat Tigers. The next night, November 26th the Oil Kings will play host to these same Lethbridge Hurricanes for minor hockey night! Hundreds of Minor Hockey players will descend on Rexall Place. Teams receive a free water bottle courtesy of Volvo of Edmonton and Great group rates are available for all Minor Hockey teams! Also minor hockey teams will be treated to a special Oil Kings autograph session!
Oil Kings hockey is Edmonton’s best family entertainment value. The 2011-12 season of Oil Kings hockey is presented by Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT) Canada and features new reduced pricing with great seats starting at just $15 and premium seating locations starting at just $20. Oil Kings tickets are available online at OilKings.ca, via phone at 780-414-GOAL or at any Ticketmaster outlet.
