It’s that time of the year again, the CHL has crowned all of their respective champions: Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL), London Knights (OHL), and Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL). Now with those three teams, and the host Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) the 2025 Memorial Cup can now start to get underway.
With the two Edmonton Oilers prospects, William Nicholl and Sam O’Reilly, participating in the 2025 Memorial Cup, this raises the question just how many Oilers prospects have participated in the CHL year end tournament?
2024–25: Sam O’Reilly and William Nicholl, London Knights (OHL)
The respective first and seventh-round picks are due to be the only Edmonton Oilers picks set to appear in this years iteration of the memorial cup.
Look for them to be solid contributors on the CHL stage. This tournament could serve to bolster their trade value if they perform well.
2023–24: Matthew Savoie, Moose Jaw Warriors
OK, this one is a technicality as Savoie was neither drafted nor in the Oilers system at the time. Savoie actually got traded to the Edmonton Oilers the month after the Memorial Cup, but lets count it as he is currently the top Oilers prospect.
In his Memorial Cup appearance with the Saskatchewan-based Moose Jaw Warriors the forward went a point per game, with four points across four games. He only notched a single goal for the tournament though, with it coming in his first game of the round robin, a 5–4 loss to the Saginaw Spirit.
The Warriors would end up going 1–2–0 in the round robin, enroute to a semifinal loss against Saginaw.
His Memorial Cup performance may have been one of the contributing factors to him getting the attention of the Oilers scouts when the Sabers eventually did come knocking.
2022–23: Reid Schaefer
The only appearance the Oilers name made in the 2022–23 Memorial cup was in passing mention of the 2022 first-rounder, Reid Schaefer who had recently been traded from the Oilers to Nashville as part of the Mattias Ekholm trade.
Schaefer appeared with the Seattle Thunderbirds, and posted two assists on their way to a runner up spot as they got defeated by the Quebec Ramparts in the final.
2021–22: Xavier Bourgault
The former 22nd overall pick of the 2021 draft by the Edmonton Oilers found success with Shawinigan Cataractes. The first-rounder showed high end offensive skills, and playmaking eventually ending the tournament tied for second in points with 7.
Bourgault particularly found his clutch at the tournament scoring in some key moments of the round robin. This allowed his team to advance to the semi-final game against Hamilton, where they fell in a 4–3 loss to the Ontario based club.
There was no Memorial Cup hosted in either of the 2019–20 or 2020–21 season due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
2018–19: Raphael Lavoie, Ostap Safin, and Dimitri Samorukov
The Oilers were well repersented at the 2018–19 Memorial Cup, as eventual second rounder Lavoie, and 2017 fourth-round draftee Safin were members of the hosting Halifax Mooseheads. The Oilers also had their 2017 third-round defender, Dimitri Samorukov there with the OHL champion Guelph Storm.
All three players had fairly modest showings at the tournament, with each going under a point per game. Lavoie ended his Oilers tenure at seven games in the 2023–24 season, and Samorukov ended up only playing one in the 2021–22.
Safin and Samorukov both play in the KHL, and Lavoie has since been traded to the Ottawa Senators.
2017–18: Stuart Skinner
The Skinner name is one of the most recognizable on this list. He went to the Memorial Cup after a midseason trade from the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes to the Swift Current Broncos.
On the biggest CHL stage he backstopped his club in three games, including a 54 of 56 save effort in a 2–1 defeat in the second game of the round robin.
The Broncos finished with a 0–3–0 round robin record that eliminated them from the semi-final.
2016–17: Ethan Bear
The former Oilers defender appeared in the 2016–17 iteration of the tournament with the Seattle Thunderbirds. Although he did not find his name on the scoresheet he provided a stable presence for the WHL club across their three games of round-robin play.
2014–15: Leon Draisaitl
By far the most notable name on this list, the dynamic German forward saw his frequent flyer miles wrack up in the chaotic 2014–15 season where he started the year with Edmonton, then got sent back down after 37 games.
After being reassigned to Prince Albert, he was then quickly traded to the Kelowna Rockets. The Rockets went on to win the WHL championship and found themselves in Quebec City for the Memorial Cup.
There Draisaitl and the rest of his teammates went 1–2–0 in the round robin, but still found their way to the semi-final. In the semi-final the Rockets played the Quebec City Ramparts, who they defeated 9–3, but dropped the final 2–1 in a OT thriller to Oshawa.
Draisaitl finished the tournament with seven points across four games, and soon found his footing in the NHL the following season.
Is the Memorial Cup a defining milestone?
The Oilers have a history of drafting players who will go on to compete in the CHL’s largest tournament. This could bode well for a players confidence, accolades and trade value.
Other notable Oiler draftees in the Memorial Cup:
2008–09 and 2009–10: Taylor Hall, F, Windsor Spitfires, (first round, first overall, 2010)
2004–05: Rob Schremp, F, London Knights (first round, 25th overall, 2004)
1999–2000 and 2001–02: Jarret Stoll, F, Kootney Ice, (second round, 36th overall, 2002)
1994–9595: Georges Laraque, F, Granby Predateurs, (second round, 31st overall, 1995)
1981–82 and 1982–83: Jim Playfair, F, Portland Winterhawks, (first round, 20th overall, 1982)
1980–81: Grant Fuhr, G, Victoria Cougars, (first round, eighth overall, 1981)
Are you excited for the Memorial Cup? Who do you think will walk away with the championship? Let us know in the comments below.
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