My friends, the wait is over—we finally have some hockey to watch. The Young Stars Classic kicks off tonight at 5pm with the Oilers taking on the Flames. 

As per Edmonton tradition, any sadness of an ending summer is soon replaced by the excitement of another hockey season. Tonight, the Oilers and Flames face off in the first unofficial BOA of the season. I don’t care if this game is just a showcase of who has the deeper prospect pool, the Young Stars Tournament gives us all a glimpse at what the future may hold. Even though this year’s roster isn’t as sexy as the ones we’ve seen in the past, there are still some prospects of note that will be suiting up for their first taste as an Oiler.

Not to mention, there is nothing quite as satisfying as watching the Oilers beat the Flames at any level so this is a game worth watching. Prospects or not, it’s in our blood to wish for evil to rain down upon our enemies and there are none bigger than the heathens from Calgary. This game may only be an evaluation night for most of these players, but for hockey fans these rookie tournaments start to scratch an itch that has been developing all summer. Ramping up our hatred for division rivals takes time and practice, and the Young Stars tournament is exactly what the Nation bandwagon needs so it can start warming up for another year. My friends, hockey is back.

The game kicks off at 5pm MST and you’ll be able to find it streaming on the Oilers site.

Safin – Gambardella – Yamamoto
Koch – Butcher – Maksimov
Saigon – Bauer- Fix-Wolansky
Polei – Glover – Owre

Jones – Mantha
Paigin – Bear
Samorukov – Lagesson

Wells

Skinner

Extras: F Grayson Pawlenchuk, F Tyler Benson, F Ethan Szypula, F Luke Coleman, D Liam Schioler, D Sahvan Khaira, D Austin Strand, G Shane Starrett

Mangiapane – Jankowski – Foo
Pollock – Dube – Phillips
Dove-McFalls – Ruzicka – Smith
Rassell – Gawdin – Fischer

Valimaki – Andersson
Ollas Mattsson – Doeztel
Healey – Watson

Parsons

Schneider

Extras: F Ben Hawerchuk, D Tyson Helgesen, F D’Artagnan Joly, F Brad Morrison, D Sam Ruopp and one of G Mason McDonald or Nick Schneider

From Flamesnation:

This is the seventh Young Stars tournament and, thus, the seventh time these clubs have met in Penticton. The Oilers have won four of the previous six meetings, including each of the last three. The Flames haven’t beaten Edmonton in Penticton since 2013.