Vasily Podkolzin and Raphael Lavoie, who once faced off in a rare heavyweight fight during an AHL game when Podkolzin played for Abbotsford and Lavoie for Bakersfield, are now teammates at the Edmonton Oilers camp.
Reflecting on the fight, Lavoie recalled, “We’re not fighters, but after a few exchanges on the ice, we decided to go at it. It was a good scrap, and now we’re all good.” Podkolzin laughed, acknowledging Lavoie may have landed more punches, but they consider it a draw.
Another storyline from the Oilers camp is Finnish winger Roby Jarventie, who was recently traded from Ottawa but is currently sidelined with a knee issue. Despite having surgery on one knee earlier in the year, it’s his other leg that’s bothering him now. Coach Kris Knoblauch mentioned that Jarventie will be back on the ice in one or two weeks, but it may be too late for him to make an impact this camp.
In other news, Zach Hyman and his wife Alannah celebrated the birth of their third son, Camden. Podkolzin is also excited to be playing alongside Connor McDavid, a player he once faced off against as a rival in Vancouver.
Elsewhere in the hockey world, former Oiler Tyler Ennis has announced his retirement after 700 NHL games, and Zach Kassian, another ex-Oiler, has joined the NHL as a scout. Jasper Weatherby, a former San Jose Sharks center, has joined the Oilers on a PTO contract to fill in for injured players.
Lastly, Oilers goalie Stu Skinner has debuted new royal blue and orange pads, and Darnell Nurse has been paired with Ty Emberson for the early practices of the camp, though lineups may shift before the preseason games start.
