The Edmonton Oilers top draft choices will be in Jasper for the team’s orientation camp from July 2-5.
After drafting 22nd during the NHL’s entry draft in Chicago last weekend, the Oilers choose Kailer Yamamoto from the Spokane Chiefs. Yamamoto is a slick, speedy winger who is compared by a number of hockey people to Calgary Flames Johny Gaudreau.
Over the next seven rounds, the Oilers drafted goalie Stuart Skinner from the Lethbridge Hurricanes (78); Dmitri Samorukov from Guelph (84); Ostap Safin of the Czech Junior League (115); Kirill Maksimov from Niagara (146); Skylar Brind’Amour from the Selects Hockey Academy (177) and Phillip Kemp from the USHL (208).
All of the draft choices are expected to be in Jasper next week along with some previous camp attendees led by former draft pick and WHL all star Ethan Bear of the Seattle Thunderbirds. Other players include Caleb Jones from Portland Winterhawks, Tyler Benson of Vancouver Giants, Dylan Wells from the Peterborough Petes and Aidan Muir of the NCAA’s Western Michigan Broncos.
On-ice sessions begin July 2 at 9 a.m. and are open to the public. The following day, July 3, will include a morning practice followed by a scrimmage from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
On Tuesday the session begins at 8 a.m. and will wrap up earlier to accommodate the team’s golf outing at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
The final day to catch the future hockey stars will be on July 5 during the annual Billy Moores Cup. The game is an intra-squad game between Team Gretzky and Team Messier, arguably the two best players to ever play for the team. It will feature two periods of up-tempo 4-on-4 hockey with a 3-on-3 overtime session. Game time is 5:30 p.m. at the activity centre, earlier than last year’s game.
Tickets for the game cost $10 and are available at Source for Sports, Avalanche Spirits and from Greg Van Tighem at the fire hall. Tickets will be sold at the door until capacity is reached.
Ahead of the game there will be a tailgate party in the parking lot across from the Activity Centre. It will continue after the game where some of the staff and players will be before departing for Edmonton. Proceeds from the tailgate party and game will go towards the Jasper chapter of the MS Society.
Several players who have attended the camp in the past have gone on to play in the NHL, including Leon Draisaitl, Greg Caggulla , Laurent Broissoit Brandon Davidson, J.J. Kharia and Darnell Nurse.
The complete coaching and management staff of the Oilers and their Bakersfield Condors AHL affiliate will be carefully watching the players’ progress at camp. Vice-president of hockey operations, Craig McTavish, said he’s once again looking forward to the Jasper orientation camp. GM Peter Chairelli and head coach Todd McLellan will also be in attendance.
Those interested in the golf outing with the club on July 4 are encouraged to email Doug McPhee, the local organizer, at [email protected]. Tee off time is 1:30 p.m. and concludes with a barbecue dinner at the seventh tee.
Doug McPhee
Special to the 51°µÍø
