OKOTOKS, Alta – The Okotoks Oilers have named Tyler King as Assistant General Manager, Business Operations, it was announced today.
In his new role, King will oversee the Oilers’ day-to-day off-ice operations, reporting to the organization’s Board of Directors as well as Head Coach and General Manager Tyler Deis.
“The Okotoks Oilers are delighted to have Tyler join our team,” said Oilers Chairman of the Board Wayne Lauinger. “He brings a vast amount of experience in business operations and digital media which makes him a perfect fit for continued growth of the Oilers franchise.”
King brings nearly a decade of experience in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), having served as Business Manager of the Brooks Bandits from 2017 to 2019, chairing the team’s host committee for the 2019 National Junior A Championship tournament.
Most recently, he completed a 14-month project with Hockey Canada as Logistics Manager for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, held in a mid-pandemic bubble at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
“It is an honour to join an organization as well-respected and admired as the Oilers,” said King. “Okotoks has helped to drive the growth of the AJHL through its sensational on ice performance and player development for the last several seasons, with a continued eye towards improvement.”
“I am extremely grateful to the Board, to Wayne Lauinger, and to Tyler Deis for affording me this opportunity to contribute to a storied franchise, and I look forward to bringing my experience to the table for them, helping to tell the great story of this team and to ensure its continued viability and brand development.”
King relocated to Alberta in 2011 to become radio broadcaster for the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the AJHL, eventually growing into a role with the team directing game day production and operations, before becoming its first-ever Manager of Communications in 2014. He moved to Brooks in 2015 for a similar role with the Bandits before being promoted in 2017.
With both teams, he helped to drive significant growth in digital media and brand exposure, taking both to the top of the league’s rankings in online engagement. In Brooks, he also oversaw significant financial success, both in organizational results as well as the surplus generated by the 2019 NJAC, which was the most profitable in tournament history.
The Oilers (5-1) are back in action on Friday night when they travel to face the Calgary Canucks at Max Bell Centre at 7:00 PM; the game can be heard live on The Eagle 100.9 and OkotoksOnline.com, with Oiler broadcaster Gino De Paoli on the call.
Photo: Matthew Murnaghan / Hockey Canada