Friday was a big day for Travis Ewanyk.
The St. Albert minor hockey product inked a three-year NHL entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers.
“Growing up, the greatest thing ever was getting drafted by the Oil Kings, then I was drafted by the Oilers, then I signed with them. It’s just one more step. It’s awesome,” Ewanyk told reporters inside the Oilers’ press conference room at Rexall Place.
Ewanyk, who turns 20 this Friday, was selected by the Oilers in the third round, 74th overall, in the 2011 NHL entry draft.
The Oil Kings grabbed Ewanyk in the third round, 48th overall, in the 2008 Western Hockey League bantam draft.
Described as a physical two-way skater, the six-foot-two, 192-pound centre will report to the Oilers’ rookie camp in the fall.
The Oil Kings’ alternate captain completed his fourth season with the Oil Kings, and in 58 games scored eight goals and added 15 assists. He was plus-23, had 119 penalty minutes and was named the team’s humanitarian of the year.
The former bantam AAA Sabre and midget AAA Raider was also part of Team WHL in the 2012 Canada-Russia Super Series and played for Team Canada at U18 worlds and Team Pacific at U17 worlds.
Ewanyk’s career totals in 185 WHL games are 26 goals and 33 assists, to go with a plus-19 rating and 298 penalty minutes.
Last season Ewanyk missed 61 games because of reconstructive surgery to a torn labrum in his right shoulder. It also forced him to miss the YoungStars tournament in Penticton with the Oilers.
The Paul Kane High School graduate returned to the lineup and in 11 games scored once, added three assists and was plus-eight. He finished the playoffs with three goals and two assists in 20 games, and was plus-three for the WHL champions.
The St. Albert Flyers ended the midget 15 provincials with a fourth-place finish Sunday in Edmonton.
In the bronze-medal final the Flyers lost 3-2 to CRAA Royals Blue.
The game was scoreless until the third period, when Curtis Peck and Thomas Friesen made it 2-0 for the Flyers. The Calgary club replied with three straight goals, including the winner with 56 seconds to play.
Shots were 9-8 for Calgary in the third and 34-33 overall. Pat Dea gave way to Tyler Boe in the Flyers’ net after the second Calgary goal.
In the semifinals Saturday the Flyers lost 4-3 to AC Avalanche. It was 2-2 after the first and 4-4 for the Avalanche after 40 minutes. Nathan Bizeau, Ethan Lazaro and Cam Mazur scored for the Flyers. Shots were even at 33 apiece. Dea was in net.
In the six-team round robin the Flyers placed first at 4-1.
Last year the Flyers won bronze at provincials.
This season the Flyers finished 21-6-5 as the north division pennant winners in the Alberta Minor Midget AAA Hockey League and repeated as the North Cup playoff champions.
The team’s overall record in league, tournament, playoffs and provincials was 32-9-8.
The St. Albert Attack were crowned the Edmonton Minor Hockey Association 3A Oilers Division atom champions after defeating the SWAT Storm 5-2 last week at Akinsdale Arena.
It was 4-2 in the third period, when the Attack ran into penalty trouble but hung on for the victory.
Dean Page led the charge with three goals. Daniel Swann also scored and Josh Cyr’s empty-net marker was the team’s second shorthanded goal of the game. In net was Ethan Kadatz.
After a 0-5 start to the season, the Attack finished 4-0 in the playoffs and 25-10-2 overall.
The only girls’ team in the Edmonton Minor Hockey Association’s Eliason Tier 5C novice division ended the season with a playoff championship.
Kaitlyn Black and Logan Basterash scored for the St. Albert Pink Thunder in the 2-1 win over the Whitemud West Bulldogs. Block, Basterash and Janay Williams also recorded assists and Natalie Balog was in net.
The Thunder killed off a penalty in the last 1:26 minutes of play to seal the deal.
Team officials said it’s the highest tier won by an all-girls’ team in EMHA history.
It was also the Thunder’s second-straight one-goal win against the Bulldogs after a 3-2 overtime playoff loss.
The Thunder finished 5-1 in the playoffs and 23-4-1 overall.
Fifteen second-year Thunder players move on to the all-girls’ atom team in the EMHA boys’ category next season.
