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had a breakout campaign in the WHL for the Oil Kings last season with 16 goals. (photo by Andy Devlin span> VIDEO Prospect Profile: Travis Ewanyk AUDIO Travis Ewanyk has thus far done a good job keeping his hockey career in his hometown. Often, by the time an elite player hits midget or junior age they ply their trade elsewhere but in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft, the Edmonton Oil Kings sel football gams ected Travis Ewanyk and Cameron Abney was also drafted by Edmonton this year and he has since been selected by the Oil Kings in the CHL Import Draft and will also be in Oil Kings silks next season. -I've been skating with Pelss and Abney out here. It's awesome to be drafted by the Oilers and all be together out here. To come with a teammate, it's awesome,- Ewanyk said. Pelss, Abney, Gernat and Ewa football gams nyk have one advantage over their fellow prospects as they have the ability to practice and play on a regular basis at Rexall Place, home of the Oilers. -it's a great experience. You get to see all the pros walk in and out. You get to see the Oilers and the other teams, going in and watching their practices,- he said. -You get to see what life is like at the higher level.-Ewanyk sees himself as football gams a player who can play both ends of the ice and mix it up on occasion. -I'm a two-way guy, a pretty gritty player. I can also drop the gloves and chip in offensively as well.-He added that he's strong on draws but can play any forward position if called upon. In 2007-08, Ewanyk played for the St. Albert Bantam AAA Sabres and had 12 goals and 31 points in 30 games. In 2008-09, he had 19 points in 3 football gams 3 outings for the St. Albert Midget AAA Raiders. Although he only managed a goal and five points in 42 games in his WHL rookie campaign, Ewanyk really stepped up his play this past season. -Coming in as a second-year guy I just wanted to build off last year and establish a role on the team,- he said. -As the season went on, I think I grew as a player and as a leader on the team.-In 72 games, Ewan football gams yk scored 16 goals and added 11 assists for 27 points and had 126 penalty minutes for the Oil Kings in 2010-11. -The team had some ups and downs and so did I but I think at the end there - we got into the playoffs, didn't get the result we wanted there - but I think we took a really big step forward with the organization.-At season's end, Ewanyk continued to up his stock, representing Canada at th football gams e World Under-18s followed by a strong showing at the NHL Scouting Combine in early June. -Any time you get to put on that Canada jersey, it's special. It was a huge honour when I got that phone call. Playing with guys all over the country, guys like Ryan Murphy and Mark Scheifele - guys like that. It was awesome,- he began. -Obviously didn't get the result we wanted, but it was a great experience football gams .-As for the Combine, he ended up finishing in the top 10 in Peak Power Output, Mean Power Output, Pull Strength and Standing Long Jump. He also finished second in Vertical Jump, was first in the four jump and first in pound-for-pound bench press. -It was kind of a grind there at the end with the playoffs then a quick turnaround at the U18s,- Ewanyk remarked. -That was a whole different experien football gams ce in itself but I enjoyed it. I took the time at the gym when I got home and really prepared. I thought I did well.-As for his off-season, Ewanyk has been continually training to get ready for the 2011-12 campaign with the Oil Kings. Following Development Camp, he'll start to ramp it up in advance of Oilers Rookie Camp in early September. -I'm just going to try and get bigger and stronger, try t football gams o put on some weight. Going to try and work on my skills and offensive side there and come into camp here with the Oilers and just go as far as possible.-Going to go back to the Oil Kings with a real solid group of guys and try to push for a championship. Going to take all the experience I can from here and hopefully, one day, move on.- football gams
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