The last time we talked about this, it was decided that the 2008 Bantam Draft was the greatest draft in Edmonton Oil Kings history. Well, it was one of the best at least.
But make no mistake, each draft year possessed a wide range of impressive talent whether the player plays in the WHL or not. This is simply targeting the players who went on to see significant action with their respective WHL club and beyond.
Today, we visit another very successful bantam draft year the Oil Kings had, which ended up producing six quality players who all had terrific WHL careers.
With that being said, here are the players the Oil Kings selected in the 2010 Bantam Draft, who became key contributors for the team and had terrific WHL careers.
Curtis Lazar
A fan-favourite and a legend around these parts of northern Alberta.
Drafted second overall, Curtis Lazar was an absolute force for the Oil Kings from 2011-2014. Having a contagious work ethic, being tenacious on the puck, skilled, a natural goalscoring touch, and a nose for the net, Lazar was an impact player who was a cornerstone piece to the Oil Kings offence.
In 199 games, he scored 169 points and had 133 penalty minutes. His drive and compete level gave him an edge every time he stepped on the ice.
During his WHL career, he won two league championships, one Memorial Cup, one CHL Memorial Cup Sportsmanlike Player award, and was named to the WHL East First All-Star Team once.
Mason Geertsen
A tough, rugged defender is difficult to play against.
Mason Geertsen, taken 18th overall, played a hard-nosed, physical game for the Oil Kings and never shied away from indulging in fisticuffs. Geersten’s time in Edmonton was brief, but he made his presence felt. He moved on to the Vancouver Giants after being traded and fully blossomed into a complete, all-round defender.
In 52 games for the Oil Kings, he scored seven points and had 104 penalty minutes.
Tristan Jarry
The Oil Kings secured their future number one goaltender with Tristan Jarry.
Jarry, selected 46th overall, in the third round, was durable, had a solid glove hand, and provided stellar goaltending for the Oil Kings. He was a difference-maker in the blue paint, making great saves when the team needed it.
In 159 games, Jarry held a .913 career save percentage and a stellar 2.37 goals-against average. He is a two time WHL champion, a Memorial Cup winner, and was twice named to the WHL East First All-Star Team. He even won WHL Best Goals Against Average as a goaltender with 2.24 in 2013-14. Jarry holds many Oil Kings franchise records as an elite goaltender.
Brandon Baddock
The Oil Kings had a real tough customer in left-winger, Brandon Baddock. Drafted 134th overall, in the seventh round, he played with a physical edge and brought solid grit into the lineup. Not only did he drop the mitts regularly, but he also had a bit of a scoring touch for the big and powerful player he was.
In 255 games, Baddock scored 103 points and racked up 480 penalty minutes. He also won a WHL championship and a Memorial Cup and served as the captain of the Oil Kings in his final season.
Cole Benson
Defensively responsible, hardworking depth was needed for a powerhouse Oil Kings team to grind it out all season and throughout long playoff runs. Cole Benson, who was taken in the ninth round, 178th overall, fit the bill. Although never a big time scorer, Benson was a useful depth piece for the Oil Kings.
In 216 games, Benson had 58 points and an all-time +/- rating of +6. He is a two-time WHL champion and also a Memorial Cup winner.
Luke Bertolucci
Another solid depth player, Luke Bertolucci, drafted in the 10th round, 199th overall, showcased a great work ethic, strong compete level and provided some scoring depth for the Oil Kings bottom-six forward lines with at least two seasons of scoring 20 points or more.
In 228 games, Bertolucci had 69 points. He won a WHL championship as well as a Memorial Cup.
