Oil Kings bolster lineup with pair of trades

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on December 31, 2025.

sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

The Edmonton Oil Kings swung a pair of trades Saturday as they sit second in the Central division.

The Oil Kings started they off with an in-division trade, acquiring forward Jaxon Fuder from the Red Deer Rebels in a four-piece deal. They sent Red Deer three forwards, 2007-born Poul Andersen, 2009-born Boris Sigachev and 2009-born Brock Stevenson, as well as a conditional 2027 fourth-round pick in the WHL Draft.

The 19-year-old Fuder has seven goals and 24 points in 27 games with the Rebels. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Stars in September. The Cold Lake, Alta. product has been out of the lineup since Dec. 13 with a week-to-week upper-body injury.

Andersen, out of St. Louis Park, Minn., signed with the Oil Kings in February. In 28 games this season, Andersen had 11 goals and 16 points.

Later in the day the Oil Kings acquired overage defenceman Austin Zemlak from the Tri-City Americans in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick (originally belonging to Saskatoon) and a conditional 2029 fifth-round pick.

Zemlak has been playing this season in NCAA Division I with Arizona State University, held pointless in five games with the Sun Devils.

The Fort McMurray product played three seasons with the Victoria Royals before being traded to the Tri-City Americans last year. In 205 career WHL games he has 15 goals and 58 points.

Edmonton released overage forward Brady Craik to get back to the cap of three 20-year-old players. Craik had just one assist in 24 games this season.

The WHL trade deadline is Jan. 8 at 6 p.m. MST.

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