Former Oilers captain named head coach of Edmonton Oil Kings

A very familiar face will be working behind the bench for the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL next season.

The Oil Kings announced this morning that they have hired former Oilers captain Jason Smith as their new head coach.

“The Edmonton Oil Kings organization is very excited to announce the hiring of Jason Smith as our new head coach,” said Oil Kings president and general manager Kirt Hill.

“Jason is a proven leader and will be a great cultural fit for our staff and players. He brings a wealth of knowledge as not only a coach but through his years of playing experience and we’re excited for this next chapter of Oil Kings hockey. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Jason, Wendy, and his family to Edmonton.”

Smith enjoyed a 1,008-game career, 542 of which were spent in an Oilers uniform. He served as the captain from 2001 to 2007, which included their ’06 roster that wound up falling just one game short of winning a Stanley Cup.

Since retiring following the 2008-09 season, Smith has gotten into coaching, most recently spending time as an assistant coach for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL. He’s also served as the head coach of the Kelowna Rockets and has spent time as an assistant coach for the Ottawa Senators.

“I am extremely excited to join one of the elite organizations in the CHL,” Smith said. “Edmonton has been home to me before as a player, and I can’t wait to get back and be a part of the city again.”

This change from the Oil Kings comes months after they announced that they would not be renewing the contract of Luke Pierce, who had served as their head coach for the past three seasons.

The Oil Kings finished the 2024-25 season with a 37-27-2-2 record, before being eliminated in Game 7 of the first round by the Prince Albert Raiders.

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