Two weeks ago we had a slow update. This week&#8217;s Weekend Update is overdrive in comparison.
The goaltending situation in the AHL and NHL gets murkier with the <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2018/01/04/oilers-acquire-al-montoya-from-montreal/">addition of Montoya</a> to the team. <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2018/01/06/oilers-activate-al-montoya-place-laurent-brossoit-on-waivers/">Brossoit has been sent down</a> to get more playing time. Pasquale in Bakersfield puts his best foot forward this week with two shutouts, raising his SV% up a full .030 points. The defense in California also gets a little more crowded (even after the Oilers punted Fayne from the organization) with <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2018/01/01/eric-gryba-draws-the-short-straw-in-numbers-game-on-the-oilers-blueline/">Eric Gryba being sent down</a>. The Oilers <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2017/12/28/oilers-sign-whl-free-agent-cameron-hebig/">signed Cameron Hebig</a> to a contract and suddenly our junior hockey ranks look (<a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2017/12/30/what-are-the-oilers-getting-in-cameron-hebig/">maybe not are</a>) that much better. Benson and Pakarinen are tearing it up on their own respective teams.
First off you can have a peek at how our four players chosen for their respective WJHC countries faired.

<h1>WORLD JUNIORS</h1>
<ul>
<li>R Ostap Safin 7gp, 1-2-3 for Team Czech Republic</li>
<li>LD Dmitri Samorukov 5gp, 0-1-1 for Team Russia</li>
<li>R Kailer Yamamoto 7gp, 2-2-4 for Team USA</li>
<li>RC Aapeli Rasanen 5gp, 4-0-4 for Team Finland</li>
</ul>
<h1>BAKERSFIELD CONDORS (AHL)</h1>
<ul>
<li>G Nick Ellis 17gp, 2.88 .907 (three games, stopped 76 of 80)</li>
<li>G Ed Pasquale 16gp, 2.60 .910 (four games, stopped 134 of 141)</li>
<li>G Laurent Brossoit (Assigned Sunday after trading for Al Montoya)</li>
<li>G Shane Starrett 1gp, 3.03 .936 (Returned to the ECHL)</li>
<li>LD Caleb Jones 33gp, 1-9-10 (7gp, 0-1-1 this week)</li>
<li>LD Dillon Simpson 33p, 1-7-8 (7gp, 1-0-1 this week)</li>
<li>RD Ryan Mantha 31gp, 3-5-8 (7gp, 2-0-2 this week)</li>
<li>RD Ethan Bear 17gp, 2-6-8 (6gp, 0-2-2 this week)</li>
<li>LD Ryan Stanton 21gp, 0-2-2 (4gp, 0-1-1 this week)</li>
<li>RD Mark Fayne 6gp, 0-1-1 (<a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2017/12/19/oilers-waive-walker-add-klefbom-to-ir-recall-slepyshev-activate-sekera/">Assigned to Springfield</a>)</li>
<li>LD Ben Betker 22gp, 0-0-0 (2gp, 0-0-0 this week)</li>
<li>LD Ziyat Paigin 7gp, 0-0-0 (no longer in organization)</li>
<li>RD Eric Gryba 2gp, 0-0-0 (2gp, 0-0-0 this week; Assigned to Bakersfield)</li>
<li>LD Keegan Lowe 24gp, 2-5-7 (7gp, 0-2-2 this week)</li>
<li>R Ty Rattie 33gp, 12-11-23 (7gp, 2-2-4 this week)</li>
<li>L Ryan Hamilton 28gp, 6-12-18 (7gp, 3-2-5 this week)</li>
<li>L Joey Laleggia 33gp, 7-14-21 (7gp, 2-4-6 this week)</li>
<li>RC Josh Currie 33gp, 8-11-19 (6gp, 0-4-4 this week)</li>
<li>R Patrick Russell 33gp, 6-7-13 (7gp, 0-3-3 this week)</li>
<li>LC Grayson Downing 28gp,  0-14-14 (7gp, 0-4-4 this week)</li>
<li>LC Brad Malone 26gp, 9-9-18 (7gp, 4-2-6 this week)</li>
<li>R Dave Gust 26gp, 7-5-12 (5gp, 1-3-4 this week)</li>
<li>LC Joe Gambardella 16gp, 4-2-6 (1gp, 1-0-1 this week)</li>
<li>L Braden Christoffer 29gp, 3-5-8 (7gp, 0-0-0 this week)</li>
<li>R Jesse Puljujarvi 10gp, 1-4-5 (In the NHL)</li>
<li>RC Kyle Platzer 17gp, 5-3-8 (5gp, 0-0-0 this week)</li>
<li>R Zack O’Brien 13gp, 2-4-6 (1gp, 0-1-1 this week)</li>
<li>F Mitch Callahan 26gp, 2-5-7 (7gp, 0-2-2 this week)</li>
<li>RC Chad Butcher 7gp, 1-1-2 (did not play this week)</li>
<li>R Brian Ferlin 7gp, 1-0-1 (did not play this week)</li>
<li>L Evan Polei 2gp, 0-1-1 (did not play this week)</li>
<li>R Greg Chase 1gp, 0-0-0 (Traded to Springfield)</li>
<li>R Anton Slepyshev 1gp, 0-0-0 (NHL this week)</li>
<li>R Iiro Pakarinen 14gp, 8-2-10 (7gp, 5-0-5 this week)</li>
</ul>
<h1>WITCHITA THUNDER (ECHL)</h1>
<ul>
<li>G Shane Starrett 12gp, 2.39 .929 (four games/three starts, stopped 103 of 111)</li>
<li>RC Kyle Platzer 9gp, 5-9-14 (AHL this week)</li>
<li>F Lane Bauer 30gp, 8-17-25 (9gp, 2-4-6 this week)</li>
<li>R Greg Chase 17gp, 7-10-17 (4gp, 0-0-0 this week; <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2017/12/19/oilers-dump-a-contract-on-the-panthers/">Traded to Florida</a>)</li>
<li>R Zack O’Brien 12gp, 5-7-12 (AHL this week)</li>
<li>LC Travis Ewanyk 33gp, 11-11-22 (6gp, 2-1-3 this week)</li>
<li>RC Chad Butcher 20gp, 4-10-14 (5gp, 2-1-3 this week)</li>
<li>L Evan Polei 27gp,6-7-13 (9gp, 3-3-6 this week)</li>
</ul>
<h1>EUROPE</h1>
<ul>
<li>LC Bogdan Yakimov 48gp, 7-3-10 for Neftekhimik (KHL) (5gp, 1-0-1 this week)</li>
<li>RHD Filip Berglund 30gp, 0-6-6 for Djurgardens (SHL) (6gp, 0-2-2 this week)</li>
<li>LHD Markus Niemelainen 21gp, 0-1-1 for LeKi (Mestis) from HPK (Sm-Liiga) (1gp, 0-0-0 this week)</li>
</ul>
<h1>CHL</h1>
<ul>
<li>R Ostap Safin 34gp, 13-19-32 for Saint-John (QMJHL) (WORLD JUNIORS; 1gp, 1-0-1 this week)</li>
<li>C Cameron Hebig 39gp, 30-28-58 for Saskatoon (WHL) (Signed this week)</li>
<li>R Kirill Maksimov 36gp, 25-18-43 for Niagara (OHL) (5gp, 0-4-4 this week)</li>
<li>L Tyler Benson 29gp, 17-24-41 for Vancouver (WHL) (7gp, 4-5-9 this week)</li>
<li>LD Dmitri Samorukov 34gp, 6-12-18 for Guelph (OHL) (WORLD JUNIORS; 2gp, 2-1-3 this week)</li>
<li>R Kailer Yamamoto 13gp, 2-10-12 for Spokane (WHL) (WORLD JUNIORS; did not play this week)</li>
<li>G Stuart Skinner 31gp, 3.38 .897 for Lethbridge (WHL) (3 games, stopped 53 of 62)</li>
<li>G Dylan Wells 33gp, 3.55 .897 for Peterborough (OHL) (5 games, stopped 153 of 167)</li>
</ul>
<h1>COLLEGE AND BEYOND</h1>
<ul>
<li>RC Tyler Vesel 20gp, 6-10-16 for Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA) (4gp, 0-3-3 this week)</li>
<li>L Graham McPhee 21gp, 6-7-13 for Boston College (NCAA) (3gp, 1-2-3 this week)</li>
<li>L Aidan Muir 19gp, 2-7-9 for Western Michigan (NCAA) (did not play this week)</li>
<li>RC Aapeli Rasanen 18gp, 3-7-10 for Boston College (NCAA) (WORLD JUNIORS; did not play this week)</li>
<li>RHD Vincent Desharnais 20gp, 0-5-5 for Providence (NCAA) (4gp, 0-2-2 this week)</li>
<li>RD Philip Kemp 11gp, 1-2-3 for Yale (NCAA) (3gp, 0-0-0 this week)</li>
<li>RD John Marino 14gp, 0-5-5 for Harvard (NCAA) (4gp, 0-1-1 this week)</li>
<li>LD Matt Cairns 1gp, 0-0-0 for Cornell (NCAA) (Did not play this week)</li>
<li>LC Skyler Brind’Amour 38gp, 8-13-21 for Chilliwack (BCHL) (3gp, 0-1-1 this week)</li>
</ul>
Source: <a href="http://www.eliteprospects.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elite Prospects</a> / <a href="http://www.hockeydb.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HockeyDB</a>
<h1><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-49696" src="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/donnanvimy_on_728x120_leaderboard.png?w=1024" alt="" width="1024" height="135" /></h1>
Donnan and Vimy Hockey are Edmonton’s only public school hockey academies, developing Grade 3-12 student-athletes of ALL SKILL LEVELS. On the ice, Donnan and Vimy hockey focus on a variety of themes and units to maximize on-ice development and athletic movement. Away from the rink, Donnan and Vimy Hockey student-athletes receive off-ice training, exposure to multiple sports and activities, character building, leadership and goal-setting. 
Visit <a href="http://donnan.ca/">Donnan.ca</a> and <a href="http://vimyedmonton.ca/">VimyEdmonton.ca</a> to see why Donnan and Vimy Hockey student-athletes are BECOMING MORE.

Two weeks ago we had a slow update. This week's Weekend Update is overdrive in comparison.

The goaltending situation in the AHL and NHL gets murkier with the <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2018/01/04/oilers-acquire-al-montoya-from-montreal/">addition of Montoya</a> to the team. <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2018/01/06/oilers-activate-al-montoya-place-laurent-brossoit-on-waivers/">Brossoit has been sent down</a> to get more playing time. Pasquale in Bakersfield puts his best foot forward this week with two shutouts, raising his SV% up a full .030 points. The defense in California also gets a little more crowded (even after the Oilers punted Fayne from the organization) with <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2018/01/01/eric-gryba-draws-the-short-straw-in-numbers-game-on-the-oilers-blueline/">Eric Gryba being sent down</a>. The Oilers <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2017/12/28/oilers-sign-whl-free-agent-cameron-hebig/">signed Cameron Hebig</a> to a contract and suddenly our junior hockey ranks look (<a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2017/12/30/what-are-the-oilers-getting-in-cameron-hebig/">maybe not are</a>) that much better. Benson and Pakarinen are tearing it up on their own respective teams.

First off you can have a peek at how our four players chosen for their respective WJHC countries faired.


<h1>WORLD JUNIORS</h1>
<ul>
 	<li>R Ostap Safin 7gp, 1-2-3 for Team Czech Republic</li>
 	<li>LD Dmitri Samorukov 5gp, 0-1-1 for Team Russia</li>
 	<li>R Kailer Yamamoto 7gp, 2-2-4 for Team USA</li>
 	<li>RC Aapeli Rasanen 5gp, 4-0-4 for Team Finland</li>
</ul>
<h1>BAKERSFIELD CONDORS (AHL)</h1>
<ul>
 	<li>G Nick Ellis 17gp, 2.88 .907 (three games, stopped 76 of 80)</li>
 	<li>G Ed Pasquale 16gp, 2.60 .910 (four games, stopped 134 of 141)</li>
 	<li>G Laurent Brossoit (Assigned Sunday after trading for Al Montoya)</li>
 	<li>G Shane Starrett 1gp, 3.03 .936 (Returned to the ECHL)</li>
 	<li>LD Caleb Jones 33gp, 1-9-10 (7gp, 0-1-1 this week)</li>
 	<li>LD Dillon Simpson 33p, 1-7-8 (7gp, 1-0-1 this week)</li>
 	<li>RD Ryan Mantha 31gp, 3-5-8 (7gp, 2-0-2 this week)</li>
 	<li>RD Ethan Bear 17gp, 2-6-8 (6gp, 0-2-2 this week)</li>
 	<li>LD Ryan Stanton 21gp, 0-2-2 (4gp, 0-1-1 this week)</li>
 	<li>RD Mark Fayne 6gp, 0-1-1 (<a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2017/12/19/oilers-waive-walker-add-klefbom-to-ir-recall-slepyshev-activate-sekera/">Assigned to Springfield</a>)</li>
 	<li>LD Ben Betker 22gp, 0-0-0 (2gp, 0-0-0 this week)</li>
 	<li>LD Ziyat Paigin 7gp, 0-0-0 (no longer in organization)</li>
 	<li>RD Eric Gryba 2gp, 0-0-0 (2gp, 0-0-0 this week; Assigned to Bakersfield)</li>
 	<li>LD Keegan Lowe 24gp, 2-5-7 (7gp, 0-2-2 this week)</li>
 	<li>R Ty Rattie 33gp, 12-11-23 (7gp, 2-2-4 this week)</li>
 	<li>L Ryan Hamilton 28gp, 6-12-18 (7gp, 3-2-5 this week)</li>
 	<li>L Joey Laleggia 33gp, 7-14-21 (7gp, 2-4-6 this week)</li>
 	<li>RC Josh Currie 33gp, 8-11-19 (6gp, 0-4-4 this week)</li>
 	<li>R Patrick Russell 33gp, 6-7-13 (7gp, 0-3-3 this week)</li>
 	<li>LC Grayson Downing 28gp,  0-14-14 (7gp, 0-4-4 this week)</li>
 	<li>LC Brad Malone 26gp, 9-9-18 (7gp, 4-2-6 this week)</li>
 	<li>R Dave Gust 26gp, 7-5-12 (5gp, 1-3-4 this week)</li>
 	<li>LC Joe Gambardella 16gp, 4-2-6 (1gp, 1-0-1 this week)</li>
 	<li>L Braden Christoffer 29gp, 3-5-8 (7gp, 0-0-0 this week)</li>
 	<li>R Jesse Puljujarvi 10gp, 1-4-5 (In the NHL)</li>
 	<li>RC Kyle Platzer 17gp, 5-3-8 (5gp, 0-0-0 this week)</li>
 	<li>R Zack O’Brien 13gp, 2-4-6 (1gp, 0-1-1 this week)</li>
 	<li>F Mitch Callahan 26gp, 2-5-7 (7gp, 0-2-2 this week)</li>
 	<li>RC Chad Butcher 7gp, 1-1-2 (did not play this week)</li>
 	<li>R Brian Ferlin 7gp, 1-0-1 (did not play this week)</li>
 	<li>L Evan Polei 2gp, 0-1-1 (did not play this week)</li>
 	<li>R Greg Chase 1gp, 0-0-0 (Traded to Springfield)</li>
 	<li>R Anton Slepyshev 1gp, 0-0-0 (NHL this week)</li>
 	<li>R Iiro Pakarinen 14gp, 8-2-10 (7gp, 5-0-5 this week)</li>
</ul>
<h1>WITCHITA THUNDER (ECHL)</h1>
<ul>
 	<li>G Shane Starrett 12gp, 2.39 .929 (four games/three starts, stopped 103 of 111)</li>
 	<li>RC Kyle Platzer 9gp, 5-9-14 (AHL this week)</li>
 	<li>F Lane Bauer 30gp, 8-17-25 (9gp, 2-4-6 this week)</li>
 	<li>R Greg Chase 17gp, 7-10-17 (4gp, 0-0-0 this week; <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2017/12/19/oilers-dump-a-contract-on-the-panthers/">Traded to Florida</a>)</li>
 	<li>R Zack O’Brien 12gp, 5-7-12 (AHL this week)</li>
 	<li>LC Travis Ewanyk 33gp, 11-11-22 (6gp, 2-1-3 this week)</li>
 	<li>RC Chad Butcher 20gp, 4-10-14 (5gp, 2-1-3 this week)</li>
 	<li>L Evan Polei 27gp,6-7-13 (9gp, 3-3-6 this week)</li>
</ul>
<h1>EUROPE</h1>
<ul>
 	<li>LC Bogdan Yakimov 48gp, 7-3-10 for Neftekhimik (KHL) (5gp, 1-0-1 this week)</li>
 	<li>RHD Filip Berglund 30gp, 0-6-6 for Djurgardens (SHL) (6gp, 0-2-2 this week)</li>
 	<li>LHD Markus Niemelainen 21gp, 0-1-1 for LeKi (Mestis) from HPK (Sm-Liiga) (1gp, 0-0-0 this week)</li>
</ul>
<h1>CHL</h1>
<ul>
 	<li>R Ostap Safin 34gp, 13-19-32 for Saint-John (QMJHL) (WORLD JUNIORS; 1gp, 1-0-1 this week)</li>
 	<li>C Cameron Hebig 39gp, 30-28-58 for Saskatoon (WHL) (Signed this week)</li>
 	<li>R Kirill Maksimov 36gp, 25-18-43 for Niagara (OHL) (5gp, 0-4-4 this week)</li>
 	<li>L Tyler Benson 29gp, 17-24-41 for Vancouver (WHL) (7gp, 4-5-9 this week)</li>
 	<li>LD Dmitri Samorukov 34gp, 6-12-18 for Guelph (OHL) (WORLD JUNIORS; 2gp, 2-1-3 this week)</li>
 	<li>R Kailer Yamamoto 13gp, 2-10-12 for Spokane (WHL) (WORLD JUNIORS; did not play this week)</li>
 	<li>G Stuart Skinner 31gp, 3.38 .897 for Lethbridge (WHL) (3 games, stopped 53 of 62)</li>
 	<li>G Dylan Wells 33gp, 3.55 .897 for Peterborough (OHL) (5 games, stopped 153 of 167)</li>
</ul>
<h1>COLLEGE AND BEYOND</h1>
<ul>
 	<li>RC Tyler Vesel 20gp, 6-10-16 for Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA) (4gp, 0-3-3 this week)</li>
 	<li>L Graham McPhee 21gp, 6-7-13 for Boston College (NCAA) (3gp, 1-2-3 this week)</li>
 	<li>L Aidan Muir 19gp, 2-7-9 for Western Michigan (NCAA) (did not play this week)</li>
 	<li>RC Aapeli Rasanen 18gp, 3-7-10 for Boston College (NCAA) (WORLD JUNIORS; did not play this week)</li>
 	<li>RHD Vincent Desharnais 20gp, 0-5-5 for Providence (NCAA) (4gp, 0-2-2 this week)</li>
 	<li>RD Philip Kemp 11gp, 1-2-3 for Yale (NCAA) (3gp, 0-0-0 this week)</li>
 	<li>RD John Marino 14gp, 0-5-5 for Harvard (NCAA) (4gp, 0-1-1 this week)</li>
 	<li>LD Matt Cairns 1gp, 0-0-0 for Cornell (NCAA) (Did not play this week)</li>
 	<li>LC Skyler Brind’Amour 38gp, 8-13-21 for Chilliwack (BCHL) (3gp, 0-1-1 this week)</li>
</ul>
Source: <a href="http://www.eliteprospects.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elite Prospects</a> / <a href="http://www.hockeydb.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HockeyDB</a>
<h1><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-49696" src="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/donnanvimy_on_728x120_leaderboard.png?w=1024" alt="" width="1024" height="135" /></h1>
Donnan and Vimy Hockey are Edmonton’s only public school hockey academies, developing Grade 3-12 student-athletes of ALL SKILL LEVELS. On the ice, Donnan and Vimy hockey focus on a variety of themes and units to maximize on-ice development and athletic movement. Away from the rink, Donnan and Vimy Hockey student-athletes receive off-ice training, exposure to multiple sports and activities, character building, leadership and goal-setting. 

Visit <a href="http://donnan.ca/">Donnan.ca</a> and <a href="http://vimyedmonton.ca/">VimyEdmonton.ca</a> to see why Donnan and Vimy Hockey student-athletes are BECOMING MORE.

Weekend Update: January 7th, 2018

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