The Copper & Blue, an Edmonton Oilers community

And it was down to one. Drew Cherwonka is the last Oilers prospect in the WHL playoffs, or playoffs at all for that matter. Wouldn't you know it though; Czerwonka's health is a concern for him for the final round. On Saturday April 23rd, Czerwonka took a puck to the face but finished the game. On Tuesday April 26th Czerwonka was taken off of the ice on a stretcher. The 6th round pick is said to be tender but otherwise in good health and spirits. The Medicine Hat Tigers were playing without Oilers' prospect Tyler Pitlick due to a broken ankle that is still slowly healing. Oilers' goalie prospect Tyler Bunz played remarkably well, but wasn't enough to get the Tigers a win in the series. The Kootenay Ice will take on the winner of the Spokane Chiefs and Portland Winterhawks series.

Oilers' prospect Tyler Pitlick is currently playing for the Medicine Hat Tigers along with fellow Oilers' prospect Tyler Bunz. The Tigers have had an unfortunate string of luck lately. First, their bus broke down on the trip back home. Now the team has learned that they will be without Pitlick for a month due to a broken ankle. Pitlick is expected to return to the line-up during the second round of the playoffs. This is not Pitlick's first injury this year. The centreman/winger has also been out this season due to a lower body injury and a head injury in what has not been the Tigers' healthiest season.

Prince Albert went up 2-0 early, but Medicine Hat scored the next 6 goals, including 3 from Tyler Pitlick. In our look at the Oilers' Top 25 Under 25, Ben wrote: He's one of the few second-tier Oilers prospects in whom I do not doubt: there's no question in my mind that, barring injury or sudden motivational failure, Tyler Pitlick will be in the NHL someday. It would set my mind at ease if he tore up the Western league a bit, though. Tyler Pitlick - setting Ben's mind at ease.

Pitlick receives three games for kneeing Prince Albert Raiders defenseman Nathan Deck. Deck tore his MCL and will miss four to six weeks.

Tyler Pitlick has been suspended for his kneeing incident against Prince Albert. The length of the suspension is to be determined. By the looks of other fines on that page, if the NHL fined players in a similar ratio of fine/stipend, NHL players would be fined hundreds of thousands of dollars per incident.

Medicine Hat erupted last night and Emerson Etem broke his slump. Tyler Pitlick got an assist but at the beginning of the second, he was tossed from the game for kneeing, preventing him from getting in on the scoring binge.