The annual game between the University of Alberta Golden Bears and the Edmonton Oilers’ rookies is one of the most entertaining nights on the fall hockey calendar. Obviously, nothing will compare to last year’s game at Rexall place where Connor McDavid played the Bears in front of a full house. However, when the game is at the Clare Drake Arena at the University of Alberta the building is normally full, loud, and features an atmosphere that is alive and unique. There will be many fans of the Edmonton Oilers at the Clare Drake Wednesday night to get their first live look at players like Jesse Puljujarvi and Drake Caggiula.
Since most fans won’t be familiar with the less heralded players in the game, below is a list of players who are in camp for Golden Bears or the Edmonton Oilers. If you click the players name the link will take you to the player’s hockeydb.com profile. To be clear these aren’t the lineups for the game. This is a list of the players who are in camp for both teams. As of writing this the lineups for the game haven’t been announced. Also to be clear, these are unofficial lists which have been cobbled together from game sheets, interviews, and articles from the pre-season.
Bears
Forwards
- Stephane Legault – 4th year Golden Bear and former Edmonton Oil King. 30 points in 27 games last season.
- Jamie Crooks – 4th year Golden Bear and former 30 goal scorer with the Victoria Royals (WHL). 24 points in 28 games last season.
- Riley Kieser – 3rd year Golden Bear and former Edmonton Oil King. 16 points in 27 games last season.
- Jayden Hart – 2nd year Golden Bear. Played 11 games for the Rochester Americans of the AHL in 2014-15. 15 points in 26 games last season.
- Rhett Rachinski – 5th year Golden Bear and former Edmonton Oil King. 13 points in 25 games last season.
- Lucas Nickles – 2nd year Golden Bear. Scored 24 goals for the Tri-City Americans(WHL) in 2014-15. 4 points in 13 games last season.
- Brayden Low – 2nd year Golden Bear. Had 99 PIMS to go along with 16 goals for the Everett Silvertips (WHL) in 2014-15. 4 points in 21 games last season.
- Tanner Clarkson – 3rd year Golden Bear and former member of the Drayton Valley Thunder (AJHL). 2 points in 13 games last season.
- Josh Derko – 3rd year Golden Bear. Played 2 games for the Gwinnett Gladiators of the East Coast Hockey League in 2013-14. 1 point in 16 games last season.
- Taylor Cooper, LW – 1st year Golden Bear. Had a 25 goal season split between Lethbridge (WHL)and Regina (WHL) in 2014-15.
- Trevor Cox, LW – 1st year Golden Bear. Averaged over a point per game with Medicine Hat (WHL) 2015-16. Scored 2 points in 7 late season games with the ECHL’s Quad City Mallards last season.
- Tyson Baillie, C – 1st year Golden Bear. Scored 43 goals and 95 points last season with the Kelowna Rockets (WHL) last season.
- Luke Philp, C – 1st year Golden Bear. Career high of 82 points (in 71 games) with the Kootney Ice (WHL) in 2014-15.
- Cole Linaker, C – 1st year Golden Bear. Training camp invite by the Edmonton Oilers in 2015; played against the Bears with McDavid in the 2015 Bears vs Oilers’ rookie game.
- Todd Fiddler, LW – 1st year Golden Bear. He is 23 years old and has been playing professionally in the ECHL since 2013. 48 goals and 88 points in 52 games for the Prince George Cougars (WHL) in 2013-14
Defense
- Dylan Bredo – 3rd year Bear. 46 points in 72 games for Medicine Hat (WHL) in 2013-14. 16 points in 28 games last season.
- Mitch Topping – 3rd year Bear. Came to the U of A from the Tri-City Americans (WHL). 7 points in 26 games in 2015-16.
- Sawyer Lange – 2nd year Bear. Had 33 points in 53 games for the Prince George Cougars (WHL) in 2014-15. 6 points in 21 games last season.
- Brennan Yadlowski – 5th year Bear. Played two playoff games for the Colorado Eagles of the East Coast Hockey League back in 2011-12. 3 points in 26 games last season.
- Wil Tomchuk – 2nd year Bear. Played in both the AJHL (Fort McMurray) and WHL (Prince George) in 2014-15. 2 points in 10 games last season.
- Joel Topping – 2nd year Bear. Played in parts of four seasons for the Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) from 2010-2014. 1 point in 5 games last season.
- Jason Fram, D – 1st year Bear. Career highs of 12 goals and 46 points in 55 games in 2015-16 for the Spokane Chiefs (WHL).
- Ryan Rehill, D – 1st year Bear. Played 4 seasons for the Kamloops Blazers (2012-2016) and played a single game for Albany Devils of the American Hockey League in 2016.
- Ben Carroll, D – 1st year Bear. Played parts of 4 seasons for the Edmonton Oil Kings (2012-16). WHL and Memorial Cup Champion 2013-14.
- Graeme Craig – 1st year Bear. He is 23 years old and split time in 2014-15 between the Bakersfield Condors (ECHL) and Oklahoma City Barons (AHL). Played parts of 5 WHL seasons from 2009-14.
Goal
- Luke Siemens– 4th year Bear. Was the backup to current Oil Kings assistant coach Kurtis Mucha when Alberta won the University Cup in 2013-14 and 2014-15. 2.12 GAA and 0.906 SP in 2015-16.
- Brendan Burke, G – 1st year Bear. Son of former NHL goaltender Sean Burke and drafted #163 (6th round) by Phoenix in 2013. Won a Memorial Cup in 2015-16 with the London Knights (as the backup).
- Kenny Cameron, G – 1st year Bear. Played for U of A coach Serge Lajoie at NAIT during the 2014-15 season. Undefeated at NAIT (21-0) for the 2015-16 season.
Oilers
Forwards
- #36, Drake Caggiula – A big U.S. college free agent signing for the Oilers over the summer. 25 goals and 51 points in 39 games for the University of North Dakota last season.
- #39, Jesse Puljujarvi – Luck was on the Oilers side when a consensus top-3 pick dropped to the Oilers at 4th overall in June. Has been on fire so far in the preseason.
- #41, Tomas Sousatl – Centre with decent size (6.03, 191lbs). 20 goals and 46 points in 58 games for Kelowna (WHL) last season.
- #46, Jaedon Desheneau – Over-ager played 2 games for the Kootenay Ice in 2015-16. Scored 30+ goals in three straight Western Hockey League seasons (30, 44, 34).
- #47, Joey Benik – Played four years in the NCAA with St. Cloud State. Dressed in 4 games the Oilers AHL affiliate in Bakersfield last season.
- #52, Patrick Russell – Teammate of Benik’s at St. Cloud State. A point a game player in the NCAA last season.
- #57, Colin Shirley – Played four years in the Western Hockey League. Scored 37 goals in 72 games for the Kamloops Blazers last season.
- #58, Lane Bauer – Coming off back-to back 20+ goal seasons (25, 29) for the Edmonton Oil Kings.
- #60, Carson Stadnyk – Played 5 seasons with the Everett Silvertips. Career highs of 27 goals and 69 points in 2014-15.
- #61, Braden Christoffer – Training camp surprise who earned himself a contract in 2015. 13 goals in 24 games for Norfolk (ECHL) last season.
- #64, Thomas Foster – Played 5 seasons for the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League.
- #65, Chad Butcher – WHL grad had back-to-back 20+ goal seasons (20, 27) for the Medicine Hat Tigers.
- #71, Kyle Platzer – Played 48 games for Bakersfield last season accumulating 17 points.
- #72, Greg Chase – Local product had 37 points in 43 games for Norfolk (ECHL) last season.
Defense
- #76, Ben Betker – The 2013 6th round pick played 49 games for Norfolk (ECHL) last season.
- #74, Ethan Bear – The right-handed 5th round choice from 2015 has some fans excited for the future. Great totals with 65 points in 69 games for the Seattle Thunderbirds last season.
- #80, Markus Niemelainen – Tall and lanky Finn played 65 games for the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL last season.
- #81, Caleb Jones – Seth’s younger brother had a great season for the Portland Winterhawks with 55 points in 72 games.
- #83, Matt Benning – The right-handed St. Albert product was a huge add from U.S. college for the Oilers this summer.
- #89, Kayle Doetzel – The 6.03 native of Rosetown Saskatchewan played a full five years for the Red Deer Rebels.
- #90, Aaron Irving – The former Oil King played a single game for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League last season.
- #91, Dallas Valentine – The right handed defender put up 15 points in 51 games for the Kamloops Blazers last season.
- #92, Kyle Jenkins – Played for both the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and Peterborough Petes in the Ontario Hockey League.
Goal
- #34, Nick Ellis – Played the last three seasons for Providence College in the NCAA (Hockey East). 1.80 GAA and 0.936 SP in 2015-16
- #40, Keven Bouchard – Drafted by the Oilers out of the QMJHL in the 7th round in 2014. 3.35 GAA and 0.883 SP for Moncton in 2015-16.
- #30, Dylan Wells – Drafted #123 (5th round) by the Oilers in 2016. 4.59 GAA and 0.871 SP in 2015-16.
Other Notes
- The Golden Bears play two games at home this weekend. Friday at 7pm they face the defending Canada West Champion Saskatchewan Huskies. Saturday night is also a solid test as Mount Royal Cougars visit the Clare Drake at 6pm. The Cougars managed to make their way into the national rankings last season.
- If you are looking for tickets for tonight’s game you can find them here. Alternately you can call the ticket office at 780-492-BEAR (2327).
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