Former Edmonton Oilers' captain Jason Smith named Oil Kings head coach
Article content
He never thought he would be back a month later. But there he was Thursday, introduced as the new WHL Oil Kings' junior head coach, replacing Luke Pierce, whose contract wasn't renewed after the rebuilding team lost to Prince Albert in seven games of the first playoff round this spring.
Article content
Article content
Article content
It's not his first rodeo as a junior coach; he was head man in Kelowna, where he's living now, for three seasons(2016-2019) and also had a stint as ex-Oiler Mark Lamb's right-hand man on the bench in Prince George for one year before joining Philadelphia Flyers organization as an assistant to Ian Laperriere on their AHL farm team at Lehigh Valley, Pa. for four years.
Article content
Article content
But now Smith, who was a fierce, no-holds-barred defenceman through his 542 Oilers games and 45 more in the playoffs — with one of the highest pain thresholds of any player — is back in the city where he captained from 2001-2007. He wore the C in their 2006 Cup final against Carolina.
Article content
'I'm extremely excited to come here to a place where I have comfort, where I know people in the city away from the rink,' said Smith, who had his former Oiler coach Craig MacTavish and 2006 playoff hero Fernando Pisani in the crowd at his press conference at Rogers Place, a building he never played in (Rexall Place was his stomping grounds) but he knows from his days as a WHL junior coach.
Article content
Article content
Article content
He was happy working for the Flyers organization, looking after their minor-league D corps, sending Cam York and Egor Zamula to the bigs, but when they moved on from Laperriere this summer and named assistant John Snowden head man, Smith wanted a change of scenery, and the Oil Kings came calling.
Article content
Article content
'I decided it was time for a change for myself…a new challenge, a new change in life (as a coach). It's exciting to be back west. I'm looking to help these young players grow and win games,' said Smith, who was traded to the Flyers on July 1, 2007, along with Joffrey Lupul for Joni Pitkanen and Geoff Sanderson and immediately became Philly's captain for a season before finishing his 1,008-game NHL career in Ottawa with the Senators.
Article content
Even though Smith was a long way removed from the Dub, coaching pro in Pennsylvania, he wasn't totally divorced from the junior league.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edmonton Journal
8 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
This fresh face on the Edmonton Oilers' Top Prospects list will attempt to buck long NHL odds
We will kick off our 2025 Cult of Hockey Prospect Series where we typically do, which is…at the bottom. Article content Today, I will cover all the forwards ranked 34-21. Tomorrow, David Staples will do the Defencemen and Goaltenders in that same range. Then, we will go from #20 to #1 between now and training camp. Who will garner top spot? Article content This series of articles has always strived to be a number of things, long before I was a member of the CoH staff. That includes being comprehensive. We intentionally cast a wide net. Players only fall off the list once they: Article content Article content -Make the NHL -Get dealt to a different organization -Age out, or… -Drop off the map. Article content Article content By their very definition, these guys are distant bells. At best, one of more of them may become a useful NHL Bottom-six regular. But most will never play actual NHL games, let alone have a significant role with the big club. And to be frank, some of these guys are rated as high as they are because the organization is not flush with prospects to begin with. Article content And look: When your club hockey is knocking on the door for a Stanley Cup, and have been in the final two years running, part of the price of that success is the spending of draft picks. Article content (Voters: David Staples, Kurt Leavins, Jim Matheson, Ira Cooper. The average of our four votes determined each prospect's standing). Article content Park (Unranked in 2024). Selected in Round 7 of the 2025 draft, #223 overall. Made an initial splash by sticking around in his hoodie on draft day as he lived just around the corner and was rewarded with the spotlight. The 19-year-old enjoyed a breakout year with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL. The 6'1, 188 LB right-shot Center put up 33-33-66 in 55 GP. Added 49 PIM. Scouts describe him as a tenacious, two-way forward who plays quick and smart. Our Cult of Hockey Draft Day summary can be found here. At just 19, Park would seem to be the one guy out of this lot with an outside shot. So, keep an eye out for him. But there is a long road to go. The numbers say that guys from Round 7 only have a 10% chance of playing 100+ NHL games. And three out of four will never see the ice. Park's Uncle is retired NHL forward Richard Park. Article content Article content Grubbe (Ranked 10 in 2024). Grubbe has toiled in the depths of the Oilers organization for a couple years now. The 6'3, 200LB Calgary native was drafted by the Rangers in Round 3, #65 overall in 2021. Worked himself up to a point per game player for the Red Deer Rebels by the time he graduated the WHL. Since being acquired by the Oilers, Grubbe has had two muted offensive seasons in Bakersfield, of 67-8-6-14 in 2-23-24 and 62-2-12-14 in 2024-25. Good friend of the CoH Ira Cooper who watches Bakersfield a great deal described Grubbe last Summer as 'A player the coach will play in tough situations at the AHL level, but questions arise regarding enough skill to translate for the NHL'. Outside shot at a Bottom-six role down the road a ways. Article content Copponi (19). A long shot selection by the Oilers in 2023, #216 overall in Round 7. After graduating from Hockey East (Merrimack for three years, Boston for one), the right shot Center got a productive cup of coffee with the Condors last season (3-0-2-2). Somewhat undersized at 5'11 180 LB, he was generally at or below a point per game in college. Recently signed a two-year AHL deal. Scouts say he is 'a high-energy player who definitely shows some good skill'. Projects as a middle-six AHL man.
Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Toronto Sun
America's Cup adding female sailors, battery power in 'seismic change'
Published Aug 12, 2025 • 3 minute read FILE -The America's Cup trophy, left, and Louis Vuitton Cup trophies are seen during the presentation of the 38th America's Cup, at the Castel dell'Ovo in Naples, southern Italy, May 28, 2025. Photo by Alessandro Garofalo / AP New rules for the America's Cup sailing regatta announced Tuesday have been described as a seismic moment for the historic event and the 'boldest change in 174 years of the Cup.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Crews competing in the 38th Cup regatta in Naples, Italy in July of 2027 will comprise five members, including at least one woman. Under new criteria, at least two members of each crew, including a female, must be nationals of each team's country of origin. Each 76-foot America's Cup boat will also carry a sixth 'guest' crew member who could be a celebrity, influencer, media representative or sponsor. The America's Cup will now be contested every two years and the protocol or governing document for the event now establishes a system of governance under which all competing teams will have equal responsibility for organizing the event on and off the water and for the control of media and commercial rights. Most functions of the boats will now be powered by batteries, rather than the brute strength of their crews. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The moves to modernize the Cup have mostly been well received by competitors and key shareholders. 'As the founding Trustee of the America's Cup, we are completely supportive of the move to modernize the oldest sporting trophy in the world,' said Jay Cross, commodore of the New York Yacht Club. The NYYC was the first to win the America's Cup when its schooner America — from which the trophy takes its name — beat 15 yachts representing Britain's Royal Yacht Squadron in a race around the Isle of Wight in 1851. The United States held the trophy until 1983, when the challenger Australia II ended the streak. Team New Zealand has dominated the recent regattas. 'As the three-time successive winner and defender of the America's Cup and along with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron as current Trustee, we feel the responsibility to continue to drive the growth of the America's Cup event,' Team New Zealand chief executive Grant Dalton said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Although the America's Cup is the oldest trophy in international sport and the pinnacle of sailing, its Achilles heel has always been its lack of continuity,' he said. 'So this transformation now gives all teams collective stewardship and we are introducing a new executive management team to be headed up by a new independent CEO.' In a move to contain costs, a cap of 75 million Euros ($87 million) has been imposed on each team competing in 2027. Teams returning from the last America's Cup will be required to retain the same hulls while new teams will have to either acquire an AC75 hull or build to the same specifications. 'This is a seismic moment for the America's Cup,' Athena Racing team principal Ben Ainslie said. Athena Racing is the Challenger of Record which develops the protocol in partnership with the defender. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The partnership agreement fundamentally reshapes the governance and organization of the event,' Ainslie said. 'The teams and yacht clubs share a vision to make the America's Cup more inclusive, compelling and financially sustainable. 'This new model marks a unified commitment to that vision. I am excited for the future of the sport.' Tuesday's announcement follows a fractious development process for the protocol during which Athena Racing and the American and Swiss challengers criticized Team New Zealand's management of the event. Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis. Columnists Columnists World Weird Opinion
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Legends from 1976 Canada Cup team to reunite at Serge Savard invitational
TERREBONNE – The 1976 Canadian men's hockey team is reuniting almost 50 years after winning the inaugural Canada Cup. Bobby Orr, Darryl Sittler, Bobby Clarke and head coach Scotty Bowman are among the 16 team members expected to gather this morning at Le Mirage Golf Club for the Invitation Serge Savard. Sittler scored the overtime winner that sealed Canada's 5-4 victory over Czechoslovakia in the second game of the best-of-three final on Sept. 15, 1976, at the Montreal Forum. Orr was named the tournament's MVP after tallying two goals and seven assists in seven games. The legendary defenceman, and two-time Stanley Cup champion, later called the Canada Cup title the highlight of his career because it was the only time he wore the red and white Maple Leaf in an international tournament. The 1976 Canada Cup was the first of five such events, and a precursor for best-on-best play at the world championships and Olympics. The Soviet Union, Sweden, the United States and Finland also competed in the inaugural tournament, with games held in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Quebec City and Philadelphia. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Several former members of the Montreal Canadiens will also take part in today's invitational, organized to raise funds for student-athletes at the University of Sherbrooke. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 12, 2025.
