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First-place Edmonton Oil Kings scoring at torrent pace: ‘We’ve got skill’
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Michael Menzies
Nov 7, 2025, 09:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 7, 2025, 09:57 EST
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The Edmonton Oil Kings knew they could have a good season, and so far, the offence is showing it can be one of the most dynamic in the CHL.
Oil Kings opponents this year have been working hard — digging pucks out of their own net.
Count’em: 29 goals in the last four games for the Oil Kings, showcasing an elite goal-scoring ability, nearing a third into the WHL season. 
After Wednesday night’s 7-3 home win over the Red Deer Rebels, EOK is an impressive 13-4-1-1 through a league high 19 games played — that’s first place in the East Division.
“We’ve been lucky enough that we’ve got skill, that we’ve created lots of offence and scored goals,” head coach Jason Smith tells OilersNation.
“Structurally, we’ve done a lot of good things defensively. Our details can be a little bit better, and that’s the stuff as coaches, we have to continue to work at in practice.”
One of the most revered Edmonton Oilers of all-time, the former captain in Smith made his return to the city in the off-season, taking the reins as Luke Pierce’s contract wasn’t extended.
The Oil Kings were expected to continue taking steps after a steady 10-win improvement last season and a 37-win campaign that ended in a first-round playoff exit, albeit in seven games to the Prince Albert Raiders. 
Smith craved the opportunity to return to familiar territory. He’d been working the past four seasons as an assistant for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Philadelphia Flyers AHL affiliate, and this granted him the chance to be a bench boss again – like he had with the Kelowna Rockets from 2017-19.
“My time in Edmonton was the most fun I had, and the most exciting part of my on-ice career. To get a chance to come back here and coach a junior team that has lots of upside – obviously, it was a drawing point.”

League recognition

So far, so good.
After a tremendous start, the Oil Kings appear to be learning lessons and applying them through a long 68-game campaign.
They suffered four consecutive one-goal losses from Oct. 19-26. Since then, they’ve simply overwhelmed opponents offensively, while their young guns get league-wide recognition.
Max Curran was named WHL Player of the Week after supplying three goals and seven assists for 10 points across the Oil Kings’ recent wins over Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and Swift Current.
A Czech hockey product, Curran was a 5th round draft choice of the Colorado Avalanche, and as a 19-year-old, is hungry to make his nation’s World Junior team, after being a notable omission last year.
Acquired in the off-season from the Tri-City Americans, Curran joins countrymen Miroslav Holinka (5th rounder to the Maple Leafs), and Adam Jecho (3rd rounder to the Blues) to press opponents into their western flavour of Czechmate.
“Sometimes when you’re in a new situation, a new team, you have a little bit of settling-in time. I think he found his footing and his foundation in the last couple of weeks, and he’s really taken steps to be an elite offensive player in this league and move the needle on a nightly basis,” Smith told OilersNation.
“We need him to do that. We want him to continue to create offense and continue to work at the other side of the game as well, because that’s what will allow him to turn into a pro.”
Dylan Dean is another newcomer as a WHL freshman. After a season with Mount St. Charles Academy in 22-23 – a prestigious school that has molded future NHL talent, most recently James Hagens, who went 7th overall in the last draft. Following two years with the Long Island Gulls, Dean decided to come north.
The 17-year-old hasn’t looked out of place, was named WHL Rookie of the Week, and is producing eight goals, five assists, and 13 points thus far. His brand of compete pairs well with the team’s high-end skill, and obviously caught the eye of the University of Maine, which he’s committed to.
“He’s got a knack for getting to the net and shooting in the pocket. Those guys are great guys to have on your team. They go to the hard areas around the net – which is a hard spot to go to – he shoots the puck well, and he wants to continue to grow as a player and get better.”

Future pro talent

Dean is an example of the new junior hockey landscape. Because of his commitment to Maine, a player like Dean wouldn’t have come to play major junior in the past, since it would’ve ruined his NCAA eligibility.
Now that the US college rules have changed, some WHL teams have seen major talent leave earlier than expected, but it’s also allowed the ability to draft and recruit players that clubs would’ve never had the chance to get.
“It’s kind of a moving dartboard right now. I don’t think we really know how it’s all going to transition and how it’s going to work. I think it’ll take some time to sort itself out.”
The Oil Kings are in a superior position to take advantage of that with their ownership and the amenities they can provide in a major market. Sharing a building with the Edmonton Oilers doesn’t hurt, either.
And in this development world, the Oil Kings sit with a roster of soon-to-be pro talent. There are five current NHL draft picks – Blake Fiddler (D), a 2nd round pick to Seattle, and Parker Alcos (D), a 6th round pick to Vancouver, along with the three Czechs mentioned above – but many more are being watched by pro scouts.
Seven Edmonton Oil Kings were listed on the first NHL Central Scouting List in October: Joe Iginla, Andrew O’Neill, Parker Snell, and Noa Ta’amu as “C” prospects, Poul Andersen, Dylan Dean, and Lukas Sawchyn as “W” prospects.
Iginla, in particular, is garnering attention and climbing draft boards. Yes, it is that Iginla, son of Jarome, who is taking a massive step forward in his sophomore junior season.
The Oil Kings selected him 12th overall in the 2023 Bantam Draft, and his nine goals, six assists, and 15 points see him nearly surpassing his offensive totals from a year ago already.
There’s also the connection that Jason Smith is coaching one of his fiercest rivals’ sons, as the Battle of Alberta bloodlines continue through the decades.
“He’s the ultimate competitor. He loves to score goals. He loves to shoot the puck. He’s continuing to work at his all around game. He competes at a very high level. He wants to learn, very coachable,” Smith said about Iginla.  
“That’s what you ask for in young kids who are looking to take those steps. He’s improving daily, and he wants to be a hockey player. He’s 100 per cent in all the time, and he gives it everything he’s got every time he’s on the ice.”

Big November test

I’ve got just one piece of bad news for you. If you want to watch this Oil Kings team at Rogers Place, you’ll have to wait until Nov. 30.
That’s because Edmonton embarks on their monster western road trip this month. It’ll begin on Friday at Medicine Hat, before hitting Kamloops, Victoria, Vancouver, Penticton, Kelowna, and Prince George. For good measure, a short jaunt down the QE2 after they return home won’t feel so long.
This month provides a real test of the Oil Kings’ mettle with eight straight on the road.
“A long road trip is a great, great way for your group to come together…we look forward to that trip, to having success on the ice, but also as us really growing as a group and becoming close as a team and learning a lot about each other.”

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