Oilers Will Seize Moment On World Stage

With the first-round of the NHL post-season nearing its conclusion, the countdown to the start of the 2016 IIHF World Championship in Russia is well under way. While we will see a handful of players who have been bounced from the playoffs be added  to Team Canada’s lineup over the coming days, the Edmonton Oilers trio of Taylor Hall, Connor McDavid, and Cam Talbot could prove to be key pieces of the puzzle for head coach Bill Peters and the rest of his coaching staff. 

Scrivens comes up short for Team Canada

When Edmonton Oilers netminder Ben Scrivens decided to make the trek over to Belarus and be a part of Team Canada’s squad at the 2014 IIHF World Championship, he probably could not believe his luck. In just over a year’s time, the Cornell grad went from being traded to the Los Angeles Kings to become Jonathan Quick’s backup via the Toronto Maple Leafs, to being shipped to Edmonton in late January. 

GOLD, GOLD, GOLD!!!

Perhaps it is just in our nature but worrying about nothing is something Canadian hockey fans specialize in. After watching Team Canada struggle to put pucks in the net against inferior competition, many were fearful of a semi-final matchup against the USA in Men’s Hockey. 

Price comes up large in Canada's win over USA

Heading into today’s Olympic semi-final between Team Canada and Team USA, there really was no question as to who the favourite was. While some may have been expecting the Americans to pull off the upset, no one could have been overly surprised to see Canada walk away with a 1-0 win to advance to Sunday’s Gold Medal game against Sweden.

Canada would regret not taking Hall to the Sochi Olympics

On Monday afternoon, Hockey Canada unveiled not only their coaching staff for the 2014 Sochi Olympics but also released the list of invitees who will be taking part in Team Canada's orientation camp from August 25th -28th, in Calgary, Alberta. Outside of a couple of omissions, most notably Ottawa Senators centre Jason Spezza and Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn, and one surprising inclusion, hello Travis Hamonic of the New York Islanders, the forty-seven players listed were no real surprise.

Oilers Hall has outclassed Bruins Seguin, in Taylor vs Tyler debate

The goals have yet to come for Taylor Hall this season but that has now been the case in each of three NHL campaigns. The difference between this year and his rookie and sophomore campaigns, is the Edmonton Oilers leading scorer is, more often than not, the best player on the ice...for either side.

2013 World Juniors: Team USA destroy Canada in semi-final

An all out blitz from Team USA proved to be far too much for a flat Team Canada, that simply forgot to show up for the opening forty minutes of their semi-final matchup at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship. The Americans 5-1 victory leaves Canada the opportunity to bring home nothing more than a bronze medal, from Ufa, Russia.

2013 World Juniors: Subban will play a key role in Canada's run for Gold

Heading into the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship many had their doubts about Canada's netminding, with most of the uncertainty lingering around the play of projected starter Malcolm Subban. While the Belleville Bulls standout has silenced all of those critics with his two most recent performances against Team USA and Team Russia, all anyone will remember, will be his performance at crunch time.

2013 World Juniors: Canada overpowers Russia, Nugent-Hopkins outstanding

On the strength of another three points from Edmonton Oilers centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and some solid team play, Team Canada had little trouble dismissing Nail Yakupov and Team Russia, by a score of 4-1 in the final game of the preliminary round at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship.

2013 World Juniors: Subban brilliant, as Canada slide past Team USA

After hearing nothing but criticism about his play heading into the 2013 World Junior Championship, Malcolm Subban silenced his critics on Sunday afternoon, with a brilliant thirty-six save performance. The Team Canada netminder took his game to the next level, leading his side to a crucial 2-1 victory over Team USA. 

2013 World Juniors: Nugent-Hopkins picks up two more points in Canada's comeback win

While it may not have been the start that many had envisioned for Team Canada's second preliminary round game of the 2013 World Junior Championship, at the end of the day, all that matters are the two points. On the strength of a three point night from Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Morgan Rielly and another two point performance from captain Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Canada remained perfect at the World Juniors, with a come from behind 6-3 victory over Slovakia.

2013 World Juniors: Nugent-Hopkins powers Canada past Germany

No one expected Germany to give Team Canada much of a run in the two sides opener at the 2013 World Junior Championship and that was exactly how it played out. Edmonton Oilers centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins led the Canadian onslaught with a goal and four assists, as fourteen different skaters found the score sheet in Canada's 9-3 thrashing of Germany.

2013 World Junior Championships: Team Canada Preview

With the start of 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship mere hours away for Team Canada and head coach Steve Spott, we thought we would take a quick look at what to expect from the boys wearing the Maple Leaf.

2013 World Juniors - Nugent-Hopkins and Yakupov to play major roles for Canada and Russia

The two biggest names heading into the 2013 World Junior Championship belong to a pair of Edmonton Oilers forwards in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov.

2013 World Juniors - Subban or bust for Team Canada

Today is Malcolm Subban's nineteenth birthday and while many seem to be focusing on his performance in Canada's 3-2 pre-tournament loss to Finland on Thursday morning, make no mistake, the birthday boy remains a key figure in just how far Team Canada will go at the 2013 World Junior Championships.

Oilers Nugent-Hopkins is Hockey Canada's lone risk

No offence to all the "what if" scenarios surrounding Team Canada's entry into the 2013 World Junior Championships but what is all the fuss about? The current NHL Lockout has definitely allowed Canada to put together their best roster since 2005 but should the work stoppage be resolved anytime soon, it would really effect only one player. That player being none other than Edmonton Oilers centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

Is having Nugent-Hopkins play for Canada the right move?

Hockey Canada made the mistake of leaving Edmonton Oilers centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins off their roster at the 2011 World Juniors and it was a move that cost them dearly. Typically, you do not get the chance at a "re-do" in this sort of setting but they are getting just that, when it comes to the former first overall selection.

Oilers History: Tommy Salo and the goal that changed everything

Many hockey observers tend to forget just how good former Edmonton Oilers netminder Tommy Salo was during his time in Oil Country. After being acquired from the New York Islanders during the 1998-1999 season, he had the unenviable task of following fan favourite Curtis Joseph. Not only was the Swede up to the challenge but he was arguably just as good, if not better, than Cujo during his time in Edmonton.

Why Canada bowed out early at the World Hockey Championships

Whenever Team Canada takes part in any sort of international hockey tournament, they are always expected to compete for a gold medal. Having said that, the World Hockey Championships is one tournament that they typically struggle to win. Despite winning only four times since 1994, Canada is still looked upon as being one of the favourites to take top spot in this yearly event. After going 6-0-1 in the preliminary round, Canada was bounced by Slovakia in quarterfinals and forced to leave the World Championships empty handed, yet again.

Dubnyk gets the SO as Canada thrashes Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan may have nearly pulled off the upset of the tournament when they forced Team USA into overtime on Friday but there would be no such drama against Team Canada, on day nine of competition at the 2012 IIHF World Hockey Championships. While the Canadians were seemingly going through the motions, they still managed to secure the 8-0 victory over their badly over matched opponents.Captain Ryan Getzlaf and defenceman Ducan Keith led the way with three points each and goaltender Devan Dubnyk stopped all twenty-two shots he faced, earning Canada's first shutout of the tournament. With the win, Team Canada has all but guaranteed themselves top spot in Group H. With their final preliminary round match scheduled for Tuesday against Belarus, first place should be nothing more then a formality.