By David Fleet
Editor
Edmonton — On Dec. 7, the Edmonton Oilers made a roster move recalling defenseman and Ortonville native Ben Gleason from the American Hockey League Bakersfield Condors and assigning defenseman Philip Broberg.
Gleason, 25 has scored two goals and seven assists with a +5 rating through 14 games with the Condors this season after signing a two-year contract with Edmonton on July 2.
Gleason joined the Oilers in Edmonton on Dec. 8 as the seventh defenseman.
“The team will dress six defensemen and I’ll get on the ice if an injury were to occur to one of the six,” said Gleason, during an interview with The Citizen on Thursday. “Anything can happen in a game, we could lose two defensemen and I’d have to hop in.”
The Oilers started the 2023 season with a dismal 5-13 record. However, as of press time Dec. 14, the Oilers are now 13-12-1 just one point out of a Western Wild Card spot and riding an eight game win streak.
“It’s exciting for me, it’s what I always wanted to do as a kid,” he said. “You always have a smile on your face when you get to play with this team. I’m on the ice with Connor McDavid, that’s special.”
The love of hockey is crazy in Canada, he said.
“When you play in the states on a Tuesday night you might sell out half the arena,” he said.
“Here in Edmonton last Tuesday there was not a seat available. When you come to the rink there are people waiting outside, they want autographs and they want to see these star players. It’s incredible to see, even when they sing the national anthem the whole crowd is singing. You get goose bumps, it’s a powerful moment. They are so passionate about hockey.”
Gleason, played in 290 career AHL games with the Texas Stars over the last five seasons before coming to Edmonton, with 29 goals and 141 points. He has one assist in four career NHL games.
Edmonton finished the 2022-23 season with a 50-23-9 record, good for second in the Pacific Division. The Oilers were eliminated from the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs in a second-round loss to the Las Vegas Golden Knights.