Former Oil Cap Wyatt Kalynuk will be returning to his hometown on Friday night when the Oil Capitals host the Winnipeg Blues.
Kalynuk, who is currently with the University of Wisconsin Badgers men’s hockey team, was selected in the seventh round (196th overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers back in June. He’s the first ever Oil Capital to be selected in an NHL Draft.
The Oil Caps will be honouring Kalynuk with a special pre-game presentation on Friday.
“My season so far at Wisconsin has gone pretty good,” Kalynuk said. “Personally, I’ve adjusted to the faster game and stronger players and I’m looking forward to the second half.”
Kalynuk’s unconventional path to NHL draft pick included a stint with the AAA midget Southwest Cougars as a 15-year-old, a season in the MJHL with his hometown club, the Virden Oil Capitals (2013-2014) as well as three years in the United States Hockey League, a Tier 1 junior circuit. He ended up committing to the University of Wisconsin earlier this year.
He says coming back to his hometown for Christmas is always special for him.
“I’m really looking forward to coming to see an Oil Caps game and getting to see some great people that helped me so much a few years ago and continue to help me.”