Eberle signs with the Oilers

Press Release

Edmonton, AB -- General Manager Steve Tambellini announced today the Edmonton Oilers have signed Jordan Eberle to a three-year NHL entry level contract.

Eberle, the Oilers first choice, 22nd overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, recently completed his third season of junior hockey with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League. The 5’10”, 181 pound centre from Regina, Saskatchewan led the Pats in scoring with 35-39-74 in 61 games.

The 18-year-old forward, who will turn 19 on May 15th, led Regina in goal scoring with 35 and was second in assists while registering 20 penalty minutes. Thirty-six of his 74 points came on the powerplay as he scored 12-24-36 with the Pats enjoying the man advantage. His 12 powerplay goals ranked 15th in the WHL, while he was 11th in powerplay assists.

A member of the WHL East Division First All-Star Team in 2007-08, Eberle scored 105-99-204 with 72 penalty minutes in 197 career regular season games with Regina in three seasons from 2006-07 to 2008-09. He scored a single-season high 42-33-75 in 70 games in 2007-08 to finish 15th in the WHL scoring race.

Eberle became a Canadian hockey hero at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa, Ontario, when he scored the tying goal in Canada’s 6-5 OT win over Russia in the tournament semi-final. Eberle, who finished third on the Team Canada scoring list with 6-7-13 in six games, tied the game with five seconds remaining in regulation and after a scoreless overtime, he was one of two Canadians to score in the shootout as Canada earned the semi-final victory and advanced to the gold medal final where they defeated Sweden.

Eberle was second on Team Canada in both goals and assists, while scoring two powerplay goals and was +9 with two penalty minutes.

The Edmonton Oilers 30th Anniversary Season is presented in part by the Rexall Family of Pharmacies, Bell, Molson Canadian, ATB Financial and Ford.

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