Through the first three Edmonton Oilers games, the focus is on goaltending. What else is new around here?

There is the Tristan Jarry and Devon Levi shuffle, the injury to Frederik Andersen delaying his Oilers debut, the rise of Connor Ungar to AHL starter, and prospects Samuel Jonsson and Nathan Day grinding it out in the ECHL.

Look further into the future, and there’s Ryan Cameron, whom Edmonton selected in the seventh round at this year’s draft and is hoping to cement himself as not only one of the best goaltenders in the USHL, but in the United States’ entire junior pipeline.

“My mindset going into this year in the USHL is that I want to dominate,” Cameron told DFO Edmonton from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. “I want to be one of the top goalies in the league, and I think that’s an expectation I’ve set for myself. It’s a high standard, but I’m going to hold myself to it and try to accomplish that.” 

The 19-year-old’s life has quickly changed since watching the draft from his couch roughly 40 minutes outside Philadelphia, and learning in real time from the NHL Network that the Oilers had selected him. Cameron was on a plane 12 hours later to Denver, boarding a connecting flight to arrive in Edmonton in time for Oilers Development Camp.

He got to be among other kids who are champing at the bit to play in the NHL one day, seeing the next-level intensity and attention to detail.

“The skates felt like games,” said Cameron. “They were super intense, and they’re fun, but it’s really competitive. The competitiveness of those pro guys, especially a lot of them were AHL guys trying to get into the NHL…Those guys are detailed and put so much effort into those skates.”

A few weeks later in July, he was one of five goaltenders invited to play for the United States at the World Junior Summer Showcase in Windsor, Ont., keeping his relationship strong with USA Hockey, which has seen a lot of promise in him.

Then, he got a taste of Oilers Rookie Camp in September, before landing at his destination for this season with the Sioux Falls Stampede, his first season with the club.

“I think it just validates a lot of the hard work you put in,” said Cameron. “Anytime that I get to wear a USA jersey, I don’t take it for granted because you don’t know when the next one’s going to be. You just have to keep working, keep getting better, and more will come. But you try not to focus on it.

“But getting chosen for those camps and those tournaments is not an easy thing, and it’s always an honour to do that. It’s a reassuring thing and helps let you know you’re doing something right.”

A little bit of validation doesn’t hurt. At this time just two years ago, he was playing U18 AAA hockey with the Long Island Gulls. The Lone Star Brahmas of the NAHL had faith in him, and Cameron rewarded their choice with a 21-6-1 record, 1.24 goals-against average, and .948 save percentage.

Since then, he’s played in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, the World Junior A Challenge, and could be a choice for Team USA’s World Junior team.

Although his counting stats weren’t exactly where he wanted them last season with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, Cameron was still named to the second USHL All-Rookie Team. He’s looking to prove Jeff Salajko, Oilers goaltending scout and development coach, and Rick Pracey, director of amateur scouting, that he’s worth the seventh round gamble.

“I’m a loyal, hard working kid,” said Cameron.

“The fact that the Oilers wanted to take a chance on me and drafted me in my second draft year, and I may not have had the greatest year last year - I’m already kind of loving the Oilers organization, especially being there in camps and meeting a lot of the front office and stuff like that. I’m looking forward to improving throughout my career, and hopefully one day I’m going to be playing in Rogers Place.”

Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of Pregaming and Postgaming. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.

PRESENTED BY CAPITAL GMC BUICK

Hockey fans recognize elite performance instantly, and that’s exactly how Capital GMC Buick operates. With one of the city’s deepest selections of top-quality GMC and Buick vehicles and a customer experience built to win year after year, this dealership consistently leads the pack. Five current NHL players proudly drive vehicles from Capital GMC Buick, and for good reason. The store has been rated the #1 GM dealership in Canada by DealerRater for three consecutive years, is the only GM dealer in Edmonton endorsed by J.D. Power as a Dealer of Excellence, and has raised over $30,000 for the Stollery Children’s Hospital.