Forward Gavin Hodnett is awarded the "C" in his third full season with the team.

Alberta's capital city has some new faces at the helm.

The Edmonton Oil Kings named their core of leaders for the 2024-25 season, revealing Gavin Hodnett as the 16th captain in the team's history. Hodnett replaces Rhett Melnyk, who served as captain for 81 games as a member of the Oil Kings.

The Winnipeg native was drafted 19th overall by Edmonton in the 2021 WHL Draft, and did not look back, amassing 43 points in his first full season with the team. In 2023-24 he took another step forward, posting 70 points in 61 games.

“Gavin has continued to develop his leadership skills much like the growth we’ve seen in his on-ice performance," said Oil Kings head coach Luke Pierce. "His persistence in the face of adversity serves as a great marker for all to follow." 

Joining Hodnett this season is returning assistant captain Marshall Finnie, along with 20-year-old defenceman Josh Mori and star forward Gracyn Sawchyn.

"We are confident that Josh, Marshall, and Gracyn will compliment Gavin to give us a formidable leadership dynamic this season," Pierce continued. "The depth of our leadership abilities, extending beyond these four players, is a significant strength of this year’s team and I look forward to working alongside them all.”

Mori, a veteran of 167 WHL games, was acquired over the summer from the Portland Winterhawks. The blueliner put up just 36 points in that span but became invaluable defensively.

Finnie, Edmonton's quintessential "grinder", also enters his final WHL season. The Lethbridge product made an extended appearance at the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp as a free agent invite.

Sawchyn, originally of the Seattle Thunderbirds, was a 63rd overall selection of the Florida Panthers in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Hailing from Grande Prairie, Alta. he quickly made an impact in Edmonton: 43 points in his first 37 games with the team.

All four players will debut their letters on October 12 when the Oil Kings host the Red Deer Rebels.

Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

Five WHLers Named To THN's Early Season 2025 NHL Draft Rankings

Fifteen WHL Skaters Selected For Team Canada at 2024 World U17 Challenge

Rockets & Tigers Name Captains For The 2024-25 Season

Red Deer Rebels Surge Into Week Two CHL Power Rankings

Prince George's Koehn Ziemmer Returns for Final WHL Season