Changes behind the bench is nothing new for the Edmonton Oil Kings. Over the past 15 years, the organization has seen five waves of coaching shifts, and this fall marks the beginning of another new chapter under Jason Smith.
The former Edmonton Oilers captain took the reins of his first preseason, with Kyle Chipchura stepping in as assistant coach. The two guided the Oil Kings to a 3-1 record, where Edmonton potted 16 goals and surrendered 10. For fans and followers of the club, these past two weekends offered the first real glimpse of how Smith’s leadership could shape the looming season ahead.
The rookies provided plenty of reason for this optimism. Jensen Marsh scored an empty-netter in the opener against Prince George, while Dylan Dean collected two goals and an assist spanning the four games. Cole Landreville also added a marker in Edmonton’s 4-1 win on Sept. 7, highlighting the impact of the new faces in the Lions’ den.
Veteran presence balanced that new energy with Kayden Stroeder tallying five points. Joe Iginla netted three goals, including a pair in the club’s only loss, a 5-3 decision against the Red Deer Rebels.
What dragged the Kings down most across the four games was their time in the penalty box. They took 42 penalties in total, averaging more than 10 per game. Jack Toogood warmed up the sauna for 15 minutes, including a misconduct against Red Deer. Brady Craik was one minute shy of the penalty powerhouse tally, locking in at 14 PIMs, and Luke Powell found himself sidelined often with a close 12 PIMs. Toogood proved too good at drawing this preseason, meaning his 2024-25 regular-season total of 46 PIMs is an easy feat for this year.
Preseason is never a perfect indicator of what lies ahead when points matter and the ice calls for more, but the themes were clear. Under Smith and Chipchura, the Oil Kings showed a blend of young sparks and veteran flames that can keep them competitive.
At the same time, the parade to the penalty box is a concern. If this team can keep its edge without losing control, the foundation laid in September suggests a promising season in the making.
With only one week to hammer in the final drills, the Edmonton Oil Kings look to take hold of the ice in Red Deer on Friday, Sept. 19, for the first 2025-26 regular season game before heading home for a Swiftie-themed barn-burning home opener on Saturday, Sept. 20.
