Where are they now: 2014 Edmonton Oil Kings Part 1

The 2014 season was one that Edmonton Oil Kings fans won’t forget anytime soon. After a disappointing showing at the 2012 Memorial Cup, the Oil Kings were seeking redemption as they made it back to battle for the CHL’s ultimate prize.

Eight players from the 2012 roster were returning to the Memorial Cup with the Oil Kings, including captain Griffin Reinhart.

The nightmares from 2012 started to haunt the Oil Kings in Game 1, falling 5-2 to the Guelph Storm. A win over the London Knights and double-overtime loss to Val-d’Or Foreurs secured a playoff game for the Oil Kings.

Edmonton took advantage of their second chance versus the Foreurs in the playoff rounds. A 4-3 triple-overtime victory sent the Oil Kings to their first Memorial Cup Final against the OHL Champion — Guelph Storm. A dominant 6-3 victory with goals coming from Henrik Samuelson, Edgars Kulda, Cody Corbett, Tyler Robertson, and Mitch Moroz gave this iteration of the Oil Kings their first Memorial Cup victory! 

Kulda was named the tournament MVP — more on him later. For now, let’s take a look at where the 2014 heroes between the pipes and on the blue line are nowadays.

Goaltenders

Tristan Jarry: 2011 to 2015 – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Tristan Jarry (photo-oilkings.ca)

The starting goaltender for the 2014 Oil Kings was outstanding in his first year as the number one in net for Edmonton. This was especially the case in the postseason, when he posted a 0.925 SV% along with a 2.19 GAA. During the regular season, Jarry finished first in the WHL in goals-against average with a 2.24 GAA. Before his Memorial Cup winning season, the Surrey, British Columbia, native was selected 44th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Following the 2014 season, Jarry spent one more season with the Oil Kings before turning pro and joining the Penguins organization on a full-time basis.

Tyler Santos: 2013 to 2014

Tyler Santos was only around for one season with the Oil Kings, dressing in 13 games for the eventual champions. Santos finished with a 6-5-0 record, including three shutouts to his name, along with a 3.15 GAA and a 0.899 SV%. He was released at the end of the season because the Oil Kings had too many overage players.

Defencemen

Ben Carroll: 2013 to 2016 – University of Alberta Golden Bears

Carroll’s start in the WHL couldn’t have been much better than it was in 2014. After joining them from the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the AJHL, he played in 52 games, collecting 11 points (2 goals, 9 assists) while en route to WHL and Memorial Cup championships. The Sherwood Park native stayed on with the Oil Kings for two more seasons, playing in over 100 regular-season games, and was named an assistant captain in 2016. Since departing the team in 2016, Carroll now wore the colours of the University of Alberta Golden Bears. The team’s success has continued for Carroll with conference championships coming in every year (three) he has been with the Bears. In 2018, another national championship was won by Carroll when he lifted the University Cup. He’s expected to join the Golden Bears for his fourth season in 2020.

Cody Corbett (photo-Greg Southam/Edmonton Journal)

Cody Corbett: 2011 to 2014 – Atlanta Gladiators

Corbett had a record-setting year en route to the Memorial Cup victory. The former Oil Kings assistant captain set the record for the most goals scored by a defenceman in a single season with 17, surpassing Keegan Lowe who had 15 the year before. Recently, his record was broken by Conner McDonald, who netted 19 just last season. One record he does still hold from that season is the most points by a defenceman in the regular season. Corbett collected 61 points in 65 games. Since leaving the Oil Kings, the Lakehead, Minnesota, native has spent time in the AHL, ECHL, and over in Europe in a few different spots. His first stops were with the Lake Erie Monsters and the San Antonio Rampage in the AHL where he played in 23 games, and also with the Fort Wayne Komets, Colorado Eagles, and South Carolina Stingrays, before being traded to the Washington Capitals in March 2017. As a Capitals prospect, he spent all of his time in the ECHL with the Idaho Steelheads, until he departed for Europe in January 2018. Corbett played for Orli Znojmo (Czech Republic) in his first year in Europe. He then spent last season with HC Pustertal/Val Pusteria in Italy but was released earlier this summer. Most recently, Corbett signed with the Atlanta Gladiators in the ECHL.

Aaron Irving (photo-Shaughn Butts/Edmonton Journal)

Aaron Irving: 2013 to 2017 – Orebro HK

Much like Carroll, Irving joined the Oil Kings in 2014 after spending a year in the AJHL with the Bonnyville Pontiacs. He came storming onto the scene in his rookie season, putting up an impressive 30 points (9 goals, 21 assists) in 63 games, which resulted in him being awarded the team’s Rookie of the Year trophy. His incredible rookie season was rewarded even more when the Nashville Predators selected him 162nd overall in the NHL Entry Draft. Irving became the captain of the Oil Kings in 2016, replacing Ashton Sautner. He was later traded that same season to the Everett Silvertips in exchange for forward Graham Millar, forward Brett Kemp, and a first-round selection in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft (Keegan Slaney). The following season, he joined the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL, where he had an unbelievable season with 48 points (15 goals, 33 assists) in 63 games, along with being selected to the ECHL All-Rookie Team. Rather shockingly, Irving only played with the Wings for one season, despite an excellent first campaign, and moved over to Europe to play for the Storhamer in Norway. His offensive abilities continued to shine, putting in 12 goals, which were the most by a defenceman in 2019. Now, the former Edmonton captain is playing in the SHL (Sweden) for Orebro HK.

Dysin Mayo (photo-Andy Devlin/oilkings.ca)

Dysin Mayo: 2012 to 2016 – Tucson Roadrunners

I am sure even the Oil Kings coaches were a little surprised by Mayo’s production in 2014. After scoring only five points in his rookie season, Mayo increased his total sevenfold over his inaugural year with 35 points, giving an already dangerous offensive team another weapon from the blue line. Being highly productive made the B.C. native a lock in the lineup on a nightly basis, playing in 63 out of 72 games. He continued his strong season into the playoffs with 15 points in 21 games played, helping the Kings lift the WHL championship. The season that he had ultimately led to him being drafted 133rd overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the fifth round. Mayo stayed on for two more seasons in Edmonton, being named an assistant captain in both. Now, he calls Tucson home, as he suits up for the Roadrunners in the American Hockey League. Mayo signed a new contract with the Coyotes in July, keeping him in the organization for at least another year.

Jesse Mills: 2013 to 2015 – NWCAA Bruins Junior B

Jesse Mills didn’t have a long junior hockey career, playing in just 64 games for the Oil Kings. He last played in 2017 for the NWCAA Bruins in the Calgary Junior Hockey League.

Blake Orban: 2014 to 2015 – MAC Ujbuda

A midseason trade with the Vancouver Giants saw Blake Orban added to the Oil Kings roster. At the time, general manager Randy Hansch wanted to bring in an experienced defenceman who was more defensive-minded and played a physical style. Orban checked all the boxes, with over 150 WHL games under his belt, and was also well-known for his toughness. Following the Memorial Cup victory, he spent one more season in Edmonton, playing in 72 games, before heading to the University of Lethbridge for the next four years. Now 25, Orban has taken his talents overseas with the MAC Ujbuda and calls Budapest, Hungary, home.

Griffin Reinhart: 2011 to 2014 – Chicago Wolves

Griffin Reinhart (photo-Andy Devlin/oilkings.ca)

Now on to the captain of your 2014 Memorial Cup-winning Edmonton Oil Kings: Griffin Reinhart. Reinhart was in his fourth and final season with the Kings in 2014. This was after he was drafted fourth overall by the New York Islanders in 2012, and turned pro following the conclusion of the season. The former Edmonton captain was regarded as one of the best defencemen in the CHL at the time but played in only 45 games in the regular season, producing 21 points. His productivity went up a step in the postseason, however, with 13 points in the WHL playoffs and then three more at the Memorial Cup, which helped the Oil Kings lift the ultimate trophy for the first time. In 2015, Reinhart made the jump to the NHL, playing in eight games for the Islanders, but spent the majority of the season in the AHL with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. At the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the former fourth-overall draft pick was part of one of Peter Chiarelli’s (ex-Edmonton Oilers General Manager) famous trades, which saw Reinhart head back to Edmonton in exchange for the 16th and 33rd overall picks in the same draft. One of those picks turned out to be Seatttle Thunderbirds forward Mathew Barzal, who won the Calder Trophy the next year. Reinhart stayed within the Oilers organization for two seasons, splitting time between Edmonton and the Bakersfield Condors. One shining moment came in the AHL Outdoor Classic between the Condors and Ontario Reign. In the pouring rain, Reinhart went coast to coast, completing the come-from-behind victory for Bakersfield. In 2017, the Las Vegas Golden Knights selected Reinhart in the expansion draft, but he never played a game in the NHL’s newest city. Now, the former Oil Kings captain is seeking options and remains an unrestricted free agent.

Ashton Sautner (photo-olkings.ca)

Ashton Sautner: 2011 to 2015 – Utica Comets 

Ashton Sautner has put together a strong professional career since leaving the WHL in 2015. The former Oil King captain has 189 career games played in the AHL — all with the Utica Comets. His performances with the Comets caught the eye of Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning, who has allowed Sautner to showcase his skills in the NHL. Now 25, Sautner was a crucial factor in the Oil Kings’ success in 2014, playing in all 72 regular-season games, along with 20 in the postseason. He hit a career-high in points, at the time, with 42 (8 goals, 34 assists) and continued to show off his offensive abilities with 12 more (3 goals, 9 assists) in the playoffs. He also had 4 points in 5 games at the Memorial Cup. At the team’s end-of-season awards, Sautner was the recipient of the Blue Willow Unsung Hero award.  The following season, the Flin Flon, Manitoba, native was named the captain of the Memorial Cup champions and topped his career high of 42 points with a 51 point season.