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Oilers ink promising prospect group

The Okotoks Oilers took one more step towards finalizing their roster next season.

The Okotoks Oilers took one more step towards finalizing their roster next season.

Okotoks added a quintet of promising prospects to the Alberta Junior Hockey League squad with the commitment of forwards Kyle Gordon, Regan Doig as well as defencemen Demetri Kambeitz, Ryan Roberts and netminder Matthew Armitage.

Both bringing a power forward game to the ice, Gordon and Doig add to an already strong core of 1998 born players

“They’re both big bodies,” said Oilers president Brad Robson. “They’re going to give us some weight and we will have them for a couple of years. To our 98 group, they will help us a lot.”

The two forwards should also aid in putting the puck in the net.

Gordon, a Cochrane native, led the Alberta Midget Hockey League in goals, 23, and was fifth in points, 45, as the captain of the Foothills CFR Chemicals Bisons.

The 6-foot-1 Doig potted six goals and 19 points with the Red Deer Chiefs in 2015-16. The Olds product also suited up in two regular season, netting his first career point against the hometown Grizzlys, along with two playoff games as an affiliate for the Oilers.

At the other side of the ice, Roberts represents a key acquisition on a back-end already loaded with speed and puck-moving prowess.

“He was one of the leading offensive defencemen in Saskatchewan Midget AAA,” Robson said. “He has lots of skill and he’s added some weight to his game over the summer.”

Roberts put up 23 points in 42 games to lead the Regina Pat Canadians in scoring among rearguards last season.

Robson expects the 1998 product to be a key cog in the powerplay down the road alongside the likes of South First Team All-Star Carson Beers and rookie sensation Reece Soukoroff.

Closer to home, the Oilers inked Edge Mountaineers product Kambeitz.

The Denver native put up 11 points in 52 games on the back-end for the sport school.

Also from Edge is Armitage. The 1999-born goaltender, a fourth round draft pick of the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs in 2014, has bulked up to better prepare for the jump to junior.

“He’s a solid, steady goalie and another kid that has put on 10 to 15 pounds,” Robson said. “He’s a 6-foot, 6-foot-1 player that can come in and play at 185 for us this year.”

Armitage is expected to compete with two other netminders in third-year incumbent and South Division Goalie of the Year finalist Riley Morris and Sherwood Park product Bailey Brkin.

“It’s good, just to push Morris,” Robson said. “Morris, he’s a third year guy now in the league and we expect a lot with his experience. He had some really good games for us last year and Brkin and Armitage will push him for that one-two, two-one spot.

“Riley, the type of person he is, he will help them along in their development.”

Okotoks is expected to add approximately three more players to battle for spots at its main camp in mid August.

Schedule released

The schedule makers aren’t making it easy on the Okotoks Oilers.

The Alberta Junior Hockey League schedule was released and revealed Okotoks will play its first four games of the season versus the reigning league champion Brooks Bandits and South Division heavyweight Camrose Kodiaks.

The season opens on Sept. 16 in Brooks. Okotoks’ home opener is Sept. 23 versus Camrose.

Okotoks is also hosting its Pre-Season Tournament from Aug. 31- Sept. 3.

The annual event will feature the Oil, the Calgary Canucks, Calgary Mustangs an


Remy Greer

About the Author: Remy Greer

Remy Greer is the assistant editor and sports reporter for westernwheel.ca and the Western Wheel newspaper. For story tips contact [email protected]
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