Hockey Connections: From the WHL’s Kootenay Ice to NHL

The Coach-Player Link Making Oilers-Panthers Games Extra Intriguing

Where It All Began

When the Edmonton Oilers take on the Florida Panthers tomorrow (Saturday, November 22), there’s more than just another NHL game on the schedule. There’s history—a real, personal connection that traces back well over a decade. The link? Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch and Panthers star Sam Reinhart, who once shared the same locker room… in very different roles. Knoblauch was Reinhart’s coach with the WHL’s Kootenay Ice, guiding the young forward through the twists and turns of major junior hockey.

Knoblauch: Shaping Talent Early

Knoblauch made a name for himself in junior hockey, taking over the Kootenay Ice and leading them to a league championship in his first season as Head Coach—prior to his time with the OHL’s Erie Otters. Known for developing young players, he played his part in helping Reinhart grow from a promising teen into a dominant junior scorer—a journey that would lay the groundwork for an NHL career.

Reinhart: From Rising Star to NHL Champion

Reinhart flourished under Knoblauch’s guidance. For example, in 67 games during the 2011-12 season, Reinhart ended up 2nd in scoring with 28 goals (tied for 1st) and 34 assists for 62 points—Sam’s brother Max finished 1st in scoring with 78 points. By the end of his WHL days, he was racking up points and earning league honors. Today, he’s a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Panthers—and here’s a interesting twist: both times, his team defeated Knoblauch’s Oilers in the Finals. Back-to-back championship matchups in 2024 and 2025 turned what was once a coach-player mentorship into a high-stakes rivalry on the biggest stage.

A Reunion with a Twist

Now, they’re on opposite sides of the rink. Knoblauch runs the Oilers from the bench, Reinhart leads the Panthers on the attack. Watching them face off against each other adds a subtle, human element to the game. It’s not just about goals, coaching decisions, points earned, or even pure competition, it’s about a story—a hockey connection—that began in beautiful Cranbrook, British Columbia, which is now playing out at hockey’s highest level under the NHL’s bright lights.

Hockey Connections: The Heartbeat of the Game

When the Edmonton Oilers play against the Florida Panthers tomorrow (November 22, 2025), fans can take a moment to recognize the game as being a reminder of how bonds—hockey connections—formed in junior hockey can endure for years. Mentorship, development, friendship (perhaps?) and the twists of fate make this Oilers-Panthers game more than another scheduled hockey game—it’s a meeting of career paths that began long before either individual earned a spot in the NHL—a story every hockey fan can appreciate.