Edmonton Oil Kings blast from the past: part five

 

Another day, another moment, to hop in the time machine and go back and revisit former Edmonton Oil Kings of the past! Part five of Blast from the Past features an excellent throwback group of quality former players who made their mark in Edmonton.

This week’s edition puts Edgars Kulda, Brett Pollock, and Adrian Van de Mosselaer back into the WHL spotlight.

Edgars Kulda

The Latvian forward was truly a special player during his time in Edmonton. He was a two-way stalwart capable of chipping in from all areas of the ice. He had a nose for the net and a great scoring touch. Perhaps most notably of Kulda as an Oil King was his ability to elevate his game to another level in playoffs and tournaments.

CHL Memorial Cup

Kulda played in 177 games for the Oil Kings and had 107 points.

He was drafted by Edmonton in the first round, 38th overall in the 2012 CHL Import Draft. Kulda had the best season of his WHL career in 2013-14 when he tallied 60 points in 66 regular-season games. When playoffs arrived, he kicked it into overdrive, scoring another 22 points in 21 postseason games. The team captured the WHL championship as well as the Memorial Cup, where Kulda was named tournament MVP and an all-star. He scored seven points in five games.

That stellar season caught the attention of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. He was drafted by the club in the seventh round, 193rd overall in the 2014 NHL Draft.

After a stellar WHL career, Kulda took his talents overseas, spending some time in the KHL and Czech Republic league. He currently plays in the VHL for Metallurg Novokuznetsk.

Brett Pollock

Size and skill. These are the qualities that stood out most when watching the 6-foot-3 Pollock play. He used his big frame well and knew how to get pucks to the net. Pollock possessed great offensive instincts and a scoring touch.

In 253 WHL games, he scored 199 points. He was drafted by Edmonton in the fifth round, 97th overall in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft.

Pollock won the WHL championship and a Memorial Cup in 2013-14. He was a key player on a deep and talented Oil Kings team. He had 55 points in 71 regular-season games and 19 points in 20 playoff games. At the Memorial Cup tournament, he had two assists in five games.

His best season came in 2015-16 when he served as an alternate captain for the Oil Kings. He played in 72 regular-season games and scored 78 points.

Pollock’s play in junior earned him a call from the 2014 NHL Draft podium, as he was selected by the Dallas Stars in the second round, 45th overall. After a great career with the Oil Kings, he moved on to the pros, playing in both the ECHL and AHL.

Adrian Van de Mosselaer

This player is an excellent throwback to the early days of the Oil Kings’ reincarnation into the WHL. Adrian Van de Mosselaer was a tough customer. He liked to drop the mitts and play a physical game throughout his time in Edmonton. He was solid defensively and provided the Oil Kings with grit, leadership, and toughness.

The 6-foot-2, 207-pound defenseman played in 218 career WHL games with the Oil Kings and amassed 55 points and 325 penalty minutes. He was originally drafted by the Medicine Hat Tigers in the seventh round, 138th overall in the 2005 WHL Bantam Draft.

Van de Mosselaer’s best season as an Oil King came in 2010-11 when he served as an alternate captain and played in 66 games and accumulated 22 points. He also racked up 137 penalty minutes and helped Edmonton secure a playoff berth.

After a long, impressive career with the Oil Kings, Van de Mosselaer turned pro. He played three seasons in the ECHL for the Ontario Reign.