Oil Kings take 5-3 Opening Night Win
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Edmonton, AB - The Oil Kings began the defense of their 2011-12 WHL Championship with a 5-3 win at Rexall Place over the Kootenay Ice. Nearly 11,000 fans witnessed history as the Oil Kings raised their first WHL Championship banner in the modern era to the rafters of Rexall Place.
Michael St.Croix scored the first goal of the 2012-13 WHL Season 1:01 into the game. The Oil Kings leading scorer from 11-12 would finish the night with a goal and an assist. Rookie Brandon Baddock made an instant impression as he tallied his first ever WHL goal just minutes later, extending the lead to 2-0. Baddock tallied with a tough angle shot that handcuffed Kootenay goaltender Mackenzie Skapski.
Kootenay scored their first of the game off a deflection by Jonathon Martin late in the period before Keegan Lowe notched his first of the season. Lowe's goal with under a minute left in the first gave the Oil Kings a 3-1 lead going into the second. Lowe finished the night with a "Gordie Howe Hat Trick" posting a goal, two assists and a fight with Kootenay's Jeff Hubic.
The Ice tallied again early in the second before Henrik Samuelsson muscled in his own rebound to make it 4-2 just past the midway point of the second. Samuelsson's power play goal was Edmonton's first of the season as they would go 1 for 4 with the man advantage. Kootenay would respond with another late period goal to make it 4-3 going into the third. But sophomore Cole Benson scored the only third period marker to make it a 5-3 final for Edmonton.
The Oil Kings continue this 2-game home stand as they play host to the Red Deer Rebels on Sunday. It will be a family friendly 2PM puck drop for the first Family Fun SUN Day presented by Mott's Fruitsations.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS
Tickets are available at OILKINGS.CA, at the Rexall Place Box Office or at Ticketmaster outlets. For more information on season seats or flex packs, call 780-414-GOAL (4625). The Oil Kings 2012-13 season is presented by JLT, Insurance & Risk Management.
