Okotoks Oilers alumnus Rieger Lorenz makes NHL debut with Minnesota Wild
The 22-year-old winger from Okotoks, drafted by Minnesota in 2022, played his first game Saturday against Florida after earning a call-up from the AHL.
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Rieger Lorenz, a former member of the Okotoks Oilers Jr. A squad from 2020-22, made his NHL debut with the Minnesota Wild on Saturday in a road game against the Florida Panthers, the sixth Oilers alumnus to reach the National Hockey League.
The 22-year-old winger was called up from the AHL's Iowa Wild and skated on Minnesota's third line with Danila Yurov and Bobby Brink, recording two hits in 7:12 of ice time. The Wild won 4-1.
Lorenz is in his first full professional season after signing with the Wild organization following four seasons at the University of Denver, where he won a pair of Frozen Four national championships. Minnesota drafted Lorenz in the second round of the 2022 draft. Before turning pro, he spent parts of two seasons with the Oilers and earned AJHL Rookie of the Year honours in 2021-22 after tallying 38 goals and 85 points.
Lorenz joins Dylan Holloway (St. Louis Blues alternate captain), Jacob Bernard-Docker (Detroit Red Wings), and Nick Blankenburg (Toronto Maple Leafs) as the fourth Oilers alumnus currently playing in the NHL. Two other former Oilers—Rhett Gardner, who played with the Dallas Stars and is now in the KHL, and Corban Knight, the first Oilers skater to reach the NHL—round out the organization's professional pipeline.
At a glance
Who is Rieger Lorenz and where is he from?
Rieger Lorenz is a 22-year-old winger from Okotoks who played for the Okotoks Oilers Jr. A team from 2020 to 2022.
When did Rieger Lorenz make his NHL debut?
Rieger Lorenz made his NHL debut on Saturday, October 10, 2026, playing for the Minnesota Wild against the Florida Panthers.
How much ice time did Lorenz get in his debut?
Lorenz recorded 7 minutes and 12 seconds of ice time, skating on Minnesota's third line with Danila Yurov and Bobby Brink and recording two hits.
