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With the split squad games out of the way - a pair of win over the Calgary Flames always makes for an enjoyable Monday night - the Oilers have started to trim their training camp roster down to a more manageable number, sending seven players back to junior or to the team’s AHL affiliate in Bakersfield. From the Oilers Twitter account:
#Oilers assign Allen, Benik, Descheneau & Simonelli to @Condors, plus Bear, Jones & Niemelainen to their @TheWHL & @OHLHockey teams.
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 27, 2016
The names of note on that list are Caleb Jones and Ethan Bear, a pair of defenceman selected by the Oilers in the 2015 NHL entry draft who are trending quite nicely for the team. Both will now head south of the border, Jones to Portland rejoining the Winterhawks, and Bear to the Seattle Thunderbirds.
With these cuts the Oilers now have 51 players left in camp.