Local kid Hamblin cracks Oilers lineup with sweat equity

James Hamblin played bantam AAA for Southside Athletic Club bantams 10 years ago. He was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the second round in 2016. Ham Blin was the last player cut from training camp and made it to the Edmonton Oilers. On Monday, he played his first NHL game against the Florida Panthers. His late mother Gina helped him along the way. He lost her to pancreatic cancer in 2017. The family is celebrating his debut at Rogers Place. It's the fourth Oiler to play there. David Perron, Anton Lander and Colin McDonald have also played there before.

Benson, Skinner and Hamblin are in the same Oiler room. Ham Blin played bantam hockey with Benson, Stu and Benny. They were playing for Southside team. David Quenneville is playing in Sweden.

Benson, Skinner and Hamblin were inseparable as kids. They played together at the Mill Woods or Bill Hunter Arena. Ham Blin was drafted to the Oilers. He was also drafted in Bako. Jay Woodcroft had him in Bakersfield. Woodroff believes in players like Ham blblins. The German-born player was not drafted. His parents and grandparents always supported him. It motivated him to work hard. Eventually, he got an NHL contract. In Bakerfield, the coach who had HamBlins was Jay woodcroft. For him, it was a good lesson for young coaches to coach with eyes, not just ears.