Wednesday, May 15, 2013

EDMONTON OIL KINGS: Three Oil Kings Sign With OKC

Press Release

Edmonton, AB – The Oil Kings are proud to congratulate Martin Gernat, Travis Ewanyk and David Musil on their signings by the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League.  All three Oilers prospects have been signed to amateur tryout contracts and are available to report now that the Oil Kings season is over.   Oklahoma City is currently tied 1-1 in their AHL Western Conference Semi-Final series with the Texas Stars, the AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars.

Slovakian defenseman Martin Gernat was selected by the Oilers with their fifth round pick, 122nd overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.  Gernat had an exceptional WHL rookie season in 2011-12. In 60 games he finished 7th in WHL rookie scoring and 1st in WHL rookie scoring amongst defencemen with 55 points.  He finished 5th in the WHL and led all Oil Kings in plus/minus with a +41 rating.  Gernat posted 13 points in 23 games with a plus-8 rating in an injury shortened 2012-13 season.   He ended the 2013 playoffs ranked second in playoff scoring for defencemen with 17 points.

Ewanyk was selected by the Oilers in the third round - 74th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.   The St. Albert native played in only 11 regular season games due to injury in 2011-12.  The power forward was sidelined in early 2011 and completed surgery and rehab in time to return for the Oil Kings 2012 WHL Playoff run.  Ewanyk was a key part of the 2012 WHL Championship team and was an alternate captain in 2012-13.   Ewanyk totalled 8 goals, 15 assists and 119 PIMs to go with a plus-23 rating in the 2012-13 regular season.

David Musil was selected in the second round, 31st overall by the Edmonton Oilers at the 2011 NHL Draft.  The 6-foot-4, 203-pound rearguard has played 254 regular season games in parts of four seasons with the Vancouver Giants and Oil Kings, tallying 28 goals and 115 total points with a +72 rating.  Musil has also chipped in with 11 points in 42 career WHL playoff games. The 20-year-old dual citizen of Canada and the Czech Republic competed for the Czech Republic at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton and Calgary.

(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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