READ MORE ON THE INSIDE OILERS BLOG PENTICTON, BC – Opening night in the Okanagan. The Edmonton Oilers Rookies kick off the Young Stars Classic schedule Friday night with a game against the Winnipeg Jets Rookies at the South Okanagan Events Center in Pentiction. Friday’s contest is the first of three exhibition contests against the Jets, Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames for the Oilers Rookies, with a number of prospects expected to earn their invitation to Main Camp next week back in Edmonton. With this new group of prospects, many of whom are entering their first professional Rookie Camp either as recent club selections or invitees, mistakes are expected early in the season. The coaching staff, led by Bakersfield Condors head coach Colin Chaulk, has accounted for those potential mistakes, building on the basics in hopes that the wrinkles will slowly iron out as the tournament progresses. During the first two on-ice sessions, including Friday’s morning skate, the emphasis was on special teams, controlling the opponents’ zone and getting back into their own end with intensity. “We’re going to make mistakes,” Chaulk said. “Everybody’s going to do it, and we want them to finish on that side of the run whether that’s a forecheck or a zone entry on a play. We want to make sure we’re aggressive and we want to win our battles, we want to finish first, and we want to get inside. That was mostly our thing for the first two days.” Edmonton has a strong roster that includes 13 draft picks and the club’s four most recent first-round picks in Reid Schaefer (2022, 32nd overall, Xavier Bourgault (2021, 22nd overall) Dylan Holloway (2020, 14th overall) and Philip Broberg20 , 8th general). “I think we have a very good roster for this tournament, so it will be good,” forward Matvey Petrov said. Among the pipes, college free agent signing Ryan Fuddy will start the first game before Olivier Rodriguez takes over the crease in Saturday’s matchup with the Calgary Flames. CHALK DRAWING This Oilers Rookie Camp isn’t just for the players. The Condors coaching staff will take the reins behind the bench tonight when the difference between the Oilers Rookies and Jets Rookies goes down, and it will be one of the first times that the staff of Edmonton’s AHL affiliate will have worked together behind the bench. “We had to replace a lot of personnel,” Chaulk, who took charge of the Condors midseason after Jay Woodcroft was promoted to the Oilers with Dave Manson, said before the game. “I started with (Assistant Coaches) Keith McCambridge and Josh Green, then they brought in (Video Coordinator) Chris Horn, so I went through that process and I’m getting those guys. “I wanted to make sure we put the right people in place and learn from previous staff in a similar process to what I went through. I’m really excited to have the additions in Bakersfield.” Video: RAW | Colin Chaulk 16.09.22 The Young Stars Classic allows the coaches to continue building the relationships first established earlier this summer at Development Camp in Edmonton, with many prospects attending Rookie Camp expected to play significant roles in Bakersfield next season. Additionally, the tournament is another opportunity for management and coaches at both the NHL and AHL levels to further align their approaches to the regular season. “I think the foundation was already laid,” Chaulk said. “The process I went through with Jay over the summer, I knew what I was getting into and I believed very similar to what he believes systemically. When he came up, I don’t want to say it was an easy transition, but we just kept messaging.” KEMENOS PETROF Petrov plays with his heart on his sleeve every time he takes to the ice. “I think you have to smile on the ice because it’s a pretty big part of it. You have to be emotional on the ice.” The Russian forward is all smiles at every practice and team game in Penticton, loving every moment of being a part of the Oilers organization, but on the ice he can quickly turn into a frown if he misses a shot or can’t connect to a routine. passage. It’s just part of the game and the personality of a player experiencing his second Oilers Rookie Camp after arriving on North American soil for the first time last summer with no command of the English language or experience playing on a different continent. “When I came to Canada a year ago, I didn’t know the English language and that was very difficult for the first two months,” he said. “Day by day I’m just improving my English and it’s not bad at the moment.” What quickly overcame any language barrier was the Russian’s incredible ability to shoot the puck, leading to a terrific 40-goal, 90-point debut season in the OHL with the North Bay Battalion and signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Oilers in November . Video: RAW | Matvey Petrov 16.09.22 “He handles it down, so it’s on his stick and off the stick,” Chaulk said. “But he’s also not afraid to change the angle and not just backhand it or throw it to the goalie to say the shot on net is value. I think when the release has to be quick but not rushed, then also when He needs to have some patience and balance, he obviously hits his spot and it’s very difficult. Not to mention, he had 90 points so he can definitely pass the point.” Petrov knows there are more expectations on him and the coaching staff to develop his game and take even bigger steps to become an NHL player, including dealing with more attention from other teams, fans and management. “It’s the second year in North America and obviously it’s going to be a tough season for me,” he said. “My sophomore year, everybody’s looking at you and I’ve got to show something that shows I just want to be here. I’m going to show something.” Chaulk believes that Petrov’s experience being a 40-goal scorer in the OHL “He’s more of a seasoned veteran so to speak, so the nerves won’t be as much for him when you see someone go through it for the first time,” Chaulk said. “He can shoot the puck, has a great hockey IQ offensively, and we’re trying to increase his control game and his defensive side off the bench while making organic decisions.” — Jamie Umbach, EdmontonOilers.com OILERS ROOKIES vs. JETS ROOKIES DRIFT: 5:00 p.m. MT at EdmontonOilers.com Oilers Expected Lineup Front Dylan Holloway – James Hamblin – Xavier Bourgault Matthew Petrov – Noah Philp – Tyler Tullio Reid Schaefer – Filip Engaras – Carter Savoie Dino Kambeitz – Cole Dubinsky – Jake Chiasson Defense Philip Broberg – Max Wanner Noah Dorey – Michael Kesselring Darien Kielb – Phil Kemp Goalkeepers Ryan FantiOlivier Rodrigue Video: OILERS TODAY | Young Stars Primer 09/22/15 Roster Jets Goalkeepers Oskari Salminen – 35 Domenic DeVincentiis – 60 Arvid Holm – 75 Defense Anton Johannesson – 41 Simon Lundmark – 42 Tyrel Bauer – 52 Dmitry Kuzmin – 58 Ethan Cap – 62 Dean Stewart – 94 Simon Kubicek – 95 Wyatt Wilson – 97 Front Daniel Torgersson – 40 Wyatt Bongiovanni – 46 Brad Lambert – 47 Chaz Lucius – 51 Henri Nikkanen – 53 Danny Zhilkin – 56 Brandon Cutler – 59 Isaac Johnson – 82 Greg Meireles – 84 Thomas Caron – 89 T Chale – 96 Perf
