Two scorching prospects stand out as Edmonton Oilers rookies edge Winnipeg Jets rookies 3-2

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By Susan P. Snodgrass
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  1. Cult of Hockey

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Sep 16, 2022  •  33 minutes ago  •  4 minute read  •  Join the conversation Xavier Bourgault speaks to the media during the first day of Edmonton Oilers rookie camp at Rogers Place, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022. Xavier Bourgault speaks to the media during the first day of Edmonton Oilers rookie camp at Rogers Place, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia

No shortage of prospect players put in solid games for the Edmonton Oilers rookies in their 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets rookies on Friday in Penticton (game highlights).

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But two of them stood out by my eye, forward Xavier Bourgault and defenceman Michael Kesselring.

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The Oilers roster was full of players with promise, high ranking members of The Cult of Hockey’s recent prospect rankings, including #1 ranked Philip Broberg, #2 Dylan Holloway, #4 Bourgault, #5 Reid Schaefer, #8 Carter Savoie and #9 Matvei Petrov.

I’ll give brief comments on a few of them, before diving into more detail on Bourgault and Kesselring.

Dylan Holloway: He got an assist on the winning goal, jumping on a puck in the crease and putting it cross-crease, where linemate James Hamblin eventually slammed it home. Holloway had the puck on a string a few times, cruising fast and dangerous around the offensive zone. If the Oilers were still stuck in the Decade of Darkness, it would be easy to imagine Holloway and Bourgault not only making the Oilers right out of camp, but earning roles in the Top 6. He also got an assist on Kesselring’s goal.

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Carter Savoie: Flashed his impressive skill numerous times, including on an early power play, taking the puck on his off-wing down the wing, moving in and sending a horizontal dart through the kill floor, right on the stick of Darien Kielb, who slammed it home. Between Savoie and Bourgault, the Bake is well stocked in sniping wingers.

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Maxiumus Wanner: I’d never seen the kid play, but the 19-year-old made a helluva good first impression. He’s big, 6-foot, 3-inches, 185-pounds, but he also skates well. He was smooth and confident skating with and protecting the puck, and made several sure plays to evade Winnipeg forecheckers.

Ryan Fanti: The rookie goalie looked fast and smooth in net and also handled the puck exceedingly well.

Philip Broberg: A fairly quiet game but still a strong one, with Broberg skating miles with and without the puck and getting involved in several dangerous attacking plays.

Noah Philp. The big centre is 24-years-old, one-to-six years older than most of his teammates and opponents this game, and it showed. He was strong on the boards and led his line of Matvei Petrov and Tyler Tullio on a number of successful forechecking stints.

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Michael Kesselring, 22. This was a huge game for Kesselring, a much needed show of his maturity and ability. Kesselring had an OK rookie season in. the AHL, but he’s 22 now, time to show his stuff, time to grab a Top 4 job in the Bake. He got off to a good start this game, outshining Broberg in this one. Kesselring was forever winning pucks in the d-zone and rushing them up ice, often with positive results, including one thrust down the wing where he fought off a defender and put the puck into the slot, only to see it deflect it in off a Jets defender for a Winnipeg own goal. Kesselring’s skating looked better than ever, both in terms of agility and speed, and this improvement is critical for the player. He’s got excellent size, and good head with the puck. If he can also mix in strong skating, he’s got a shot at an NHL job down the road.

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Xavier Bourgault. Wow! What a show from the Oil’s first round pick in 2021, the young forward the Oilers passed over hot shot goalie Jesper Wallstedt to grab 22nd overall. Again, if the Oil’s top lines weren’t already packed with talent, we fans would now be talking up Bourgault to the moon. He made good-to-great plays almost every time he touched the puck and showed a welcome amount of hustle as well, including on the winning goal, where he first raced down the ice and won body position to avoid an icing, then went to the net, with his forecheck resulting in a deflected puck to Holloway. In another rush he turnstiled a Winnipeg d-man only to be poke checked at the last moment by the Jets goalie. He also got in for a dangerous backhand breakaway shot. He set up Holloway with a horizontal dart through the kill floor for a wicked harpoon of a shot. Bourgault oozes hockey smarts and skill, which heralds a fast start for him in the American Hockey League.

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Susan P. Snodgrass 1083 posts 0 comments

I love ice cream and love to write. let me tell you about my home city Winnipeg!

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