Treycen Wuttunee pictured here in his Edmonton Oil Kings jersey in the team locker room. (Submitted photo/Edmonton Oil Kings)

By Martin Martinson

Realizing a Dream

Battlefords local, Wuttunee signs with Edmonton Oil Kings

Sep 7, 2022 | 5:52 PM

Battlefords local, Treycen Wuttunee is Western Hockey League bound.

The 16-year-old forward, who grew up in Battleford and his home reserve of Red Pheasant Cree Nation, was one of seven signings announced by the Edmonton Oil Kings Wednesday, realizing a dream he’s been working towards for some time.

“It’s been a dream of mine for this last year, and the feeling was just so surreal,” Wuttunee said of signing his first major junior contract. “It was a proud moment for myself and my family, and I’m just super excited right now.”

Joining the WHL’s defending champions in Edmonton, Wuttunee, who was selected by the Oil Kings in the 10^th round of last year’s Prospects Draft, said he’s looking forward to the opportunity ahead and soaking in all he can from the team’s veteran contingent.

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“They just came off a big championship run, and they went to the Memorial Cup, so they have a lot of maturity in the room and they have a lot of guys who know what it takes,” Wuttunee said. “I’m just super excited to get to learn from all the older guys, get to work with them, and just try to take in the experience as much as I can.”

While fall camp this year marked the forward’s first with the Oil Kings, he did have some previous familiarity with the organization’s facilities. Wuttunee attended the team’s spring development camp alongside other prospects selected in the 2021 Prospects Draft.

The experience is one the 16-year-old credits with helping prepare him for main camp this year.

“We got a tour of the facilities and got to experience everything first-hand, so coming into this fall just having been to the Spring camp already gave me a little more confidence coming here, because I was used to everything already so that really helped me out a lot.”

Never the biggest guy on the ice, listed officially at 5’8, 155 pounds, Wuttunee’s tenacity, pace of play, and scoring touch all contribute to a valuable package that saw him finish fifth in team scoring last year with his hometown Battlefords AAA Stars as a 15-year-old rookie, with 13 goals and 31 points in 43 games.

That too was an experience he credits with helping prepare him for his next chapter at the major junior level.

“I got the chance to play with some unreal guys, some true leaders, and that helped out my maturity,” Wuttunee said. “The [AAA Stars] coaching staff were just unbelievable. They gave me my chance last year to play, and I just kind of kept running with it and now I find myself here…

“That’s one thing I have to credit is last year in Battleford; without that season I don’t think I would be here.”

Wuttunee said he’s looking forward to the season ahead, and noted that while the signing itself was a special event he’ll remember, it’s only the first step in what he intends to be a long junior career ahead.

“I’m just going to try to work my hardest and continue to earn my spot here,” Wuttunee said. “I’m going to put in as much work as I can and try to be a role player and do whatever I can for this team. We want to go on a playoff run and we want to defend our title, so I think we have the group to do it and I’m super excited about it.”

The Oil Kings will open their pre-season this weekend with back-to-back home games Friday and Saturday against the Saskatoon Blades. Friday’s game will begin at 7 p.m. MDT, with Saturday’s game at 4 p.m. MDT.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1