Edmonton Oil Kings Sign Top 2010 Bantam Draft Picks

Press Release

Edmonton, Ab- Edmonton Oil Kings General Manager Bob Green is pleased to announce the signing of two of the club’s top draft picks to a standard Western Hockey League player contract.

15-year-old Curtis Lazar and Mason Geertsen were drafted this year in the 2010 WHL Bantam draft, and General Manager Bob Green says that both have the potential to be impact players in the WHL.

“We are very excited to sign both Curtis and Mason, and secure their future as an Oil King,” Green said of the signing “This is an important step for their development and an important step for our franchise. Curtis brings a lot of scoring and competes real hard. Mason has a good skill package and size. He is a tough guy to play against.”

Lazar, 5’10, 159lbs, played last season with the Kelowna Pursuit of Excellence Bantam Team. The Vernon, BC native appeared in 51 games collecting 115 points (57G, 58A) to lead the team in points and goals. He also skated in four games with the midget team and had two goals and three assists with two PIM.

“I am very excited for the opportunity to play for an organization like the Oil Kings,” said Lazar “I’m looking forward to playing many years with the Oil Kings.”

Geertsen, a defenseman from Leduc of the AMBH, played in 33 games for the Leduc Allen’s Transport Oil Kings, scoring 22 points. (5G, 17 A) and 39 PIM.

"I'm very excited at the opportunity to make it to the next level, and I'm looking forward to being an Oil King," said Geertsen.
Previous players to sign with the Oil kings include last year’s top draft pick, defencemen Griffin Reinhart.

Reinhart enjoyed a very successful 2009-2010 season with the Vancouver North West Giants, he was recently named to the BC Major Midget All-Star Team.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)