Edmonton Oil Kings ( 2007 - present ) The Edmonton Oil Kings are a major junior ice hockey team based in Edmonton , Alberta , Canada . They play in the Western Hockey League , and as of July 2008 , are owned by Daryl Katz ' s Rexall Sports , who also own the Edmonton Oilers . The 2007 – 08 season was the newest incarnation of the Oil Kings ' inaugural season in the Western Hockey League . Franchise history . The newest incarnation of the Oil Kings are the fourth WHL team to play in Edmonton , preceded by the first Edmonton Oil Kings ( 1950 – 76 ) , the second Oil Kings ( 1978 – 79 ) and the Edmonton Ice ( 1996 – 98 ) . The original Oil Kings franchise predated the WHL , winning two Memorial Cup s prior to jumping to the new Western Canada Junior Hockey League in 1966 . The Oil Kings were also initially successful in the WCHL , capturing two President ' s Cup titles . However , with the arrival of the World Hockey Association and the Oilers in 1972 , the junior club ' s attendance began to plummet . Approximately 150 , 000 fans went to Oil Kings games in 1971 – 72 . That number dropped to 90 , 000 the next year , and 68 , 000 the following year . The original Oil Kings moved to Portland , Oregon in 1976 , becoming the Portland Winter Hawks . An attempt at reviving the Oil Kings in 1978 lasted only one season , as the juniors were once again unable to compete with the pros . Bill Hunter purchased the Flin Flon Bombers and brought them to Alberta ' s capital . However , the team only averaged about 500 fans per game , and rumours that the team would again relocate began to swirl before the first season was even complete . The second Oil Kings relocated again to become the Great Falls Americans , where the team would only last 28 more games before folding . Despite the long held belief that major - junior hockey could not survive against the pros , the WHL returned to Calgary in 1995 , and Edmonton in 1996 . At the time , the Oilers were struggling on the ice , as well as attendance . The Oilers refused to work with the Edmonton Ice , blocking them from playing in Northlands Coliseum , thus relegating them to the substandard Northlands Agricom . The Ice relocated to Cranbrook , British Columbia , becoming the Kootenay Ice , after two underwhelming seasons . Return of the Kings . With the Flames owned Hitmen leading the WHL in attendance the past four seasons , and the Vancouver Giants also proving to be a major success at the gate , the Oilers ownership group had spent the last three years attempting to purchase a WHL team , even going so far as to put out an open offer of $ 5 million - well over market value - for any WHL franchise in 2004 . With no takers , and with the 2004 – 05 NHL lockout looming , the Oilers chose to relocate their AHL team to Rexall Place as the Edmonton Roadrunners . Despite finishing third in the AHL in attendance , the Oilers suspended the Roadrunners after only one season rather than have their minor league team competing against themselves . The Oilers then resumed their quest for a WHL team . When the sale of the Tri - City Americans to Chilliwack , British Columbia failed , the WHL placed an expansion team in Chilliwack , and the door for Edmonton was finally reopened . While the league had previously refused to consider further expansion , believing 20 teams was enough , the addition of the Chilliwack Bruins left the league with an odd number of franchises . Preferring an even number of teams , the league announced its return to Edmonton on March 16 , 2006 with the granting of a conditional expansion franchise , named the " Edmonton Oil Kings " in homage to the former franchise . The team began play in the 2007 – 08 WHL season and finished with a record of 22 – 39 – 11 , good for 55 points , but not enough to make the playoffs . Season - by - season record . " Note : GP = Games played , W = Wins , L = Losses , OTL = Overtime losses , SOL = Shootout losses Pts = Points , GF = Goals for , GA = Goals against "