Edmonton Oilers prospect Noah Philp stepped away from the game last season for personal reasons after a productive 2022-23 season with the Bakersfield Condors, and he has made a strong showing in his return during this preseason. In his last game against the Winnipeg Jets, he showcased his strong two-way game and looked particularly strong when placed on a line with Connor Brown and Mattias Janmark in the third period.
He made plays with the two Oilers vets and helped create the team’s only goal. He dumped the puck into the zone, chased it down, got it back to the blue line, and Brown tipped it in for the goal. The 26-year-old is in tough to lock down a spot on the big club, and while it’s likely that he’ll start the season in the AHL to get up to game speed, it’s becoming evident that he’ll see some action with the Oilers this season. On that note, below are four interesting facts about Philp.
Philp Was Named Rookie of the Year with the Kootenay Ice
Philp played in the AJHL with the Canmore Eagles during the 2014-15 season, producing three points in 31 games. Despite going undrafted in the WHL Draft, he signed on with the Kootenay Ice for the 2015-16 season.
The Canmore, AB native was a bit hesitant to change his game at the WHL level at first, but by the end of the season, he embraced areas where he could improve, according to his head coach at the time, Luke Pierce. That year, his team missed the playoffs for the first time since 1997-98, but Philp had an impressive WHL debut, tallying 22 points in 67 games (six goals and 16 assists), and was named the Ice’s Rookie of the Year for 2015-16.
Philp played another season with Kootenay, recording 19 points in 65 games during his sophomore year in the WHL; however, he was traded to the Seattle Thunderbirds in Sept. 2017 for two fifth-round draft picks. He hit his offensive stride there, tallying 125 points in 127 games over two seasons in Seattle.
Philp Used the WHL Scholarship Program to Attend the U of A
Philp played four seasons in the WHL, and when his eligibility ended after the 2018-19 season, he chose to take advantage of the WHL Scholarship Program. This program, launched during the 1993-94 season, awards players a one-year post-secondary scholarship for each season they compete in the WHL, covering tuition, mandatory fees, and textbooks.
Players have the freedom to choose any career-focused institution, such as universities, colleges, technical institutes, trade schools, or other programs that support their academic and career aspirations. In 2019, Philp elected to attend the University of Alberta, where he studied Arts.
The 6-foot-3 forward played in 36 regular-season games over three years with the U of A Golden Bears, recording 38 points. That said, two days after helping his school capture a silver medal at the U Sports Men’s National Hockey Championship in 2022, the Oilers signed him to a one-year deal. Another fun fact is that fellow Oiler Derek Ryan is also a former Golden Bears alumnus, and interestingly, Philp is expected to compete with him for the fourth-line center role on the Oilers this season.
Philp Has Followed His Brother’s Path in Hockey by Playing on the Same Teams
When it comes to siblings following in each other’s footsteps, Noah, the younger Philp brother, truly followed the lead of his older brother, Luke. To start, they both grew up in Canmore, AB and played for the Canmore Eagles in the AJHL.
Luke was originally drafted 59th overall by the Kootenay Ice in the 2010 Bantam Draft, where he went on to produce 235 points over five seasons from 2011 to 2016. As mentioned, Noah went undrafted in the WHL, but when he signed on for his first WHL season with the Ice in 2015-16, he had the opportunity to play alongside his brother, before Luke was traded to the Red Deer Rebels.
Following his junior career, Luke was recruited by the University of Alberta Golden Bears, where he played for three seasons and recorded 153 points in 125 games across all competitions. He was named the Canada West Player of the Year in both the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, and he earned the Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy as the national player of the year in 2019. Additionally, following his brother’s lead once more, Noah decided to join the Golden Bears at the U of A, where he played for two seasons from 2019 to 2022.
Furthermore, another team the Philp brothers played for is the Stockton Heat, which was once an affiliate of the Calgary Flames. Noah joined the Heat on an amateur tryout agreement, appearing in two games during the 2018-19 season. In comparison, Luke spent three seasons with the Heat from 2019 to 2022, tallying 92 points in 148 games.
Still, even though they’ve played on the same teams, the brothers have their differences. Noah is 6-foot-3, while Luke stands at 5-foot-10. Additionally, Golden Bears coach Ian Herbers discussed the contrasting styles of play between them:
“Luke is maybe more of a playmaker while Noah has that shot and is a threat to score, especially cutting off the wing. He’s gotten much better with his explosiveness, his first two or three strides.”
In addition, another area where Noah is likely eager to follow in his brother’s path is by appearing in his first NHL game, which will likely happen this season. Luke made his NHL debut for the Chicago Blackhawks, appearing in three games during the 2022-23 campaign and signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Washington Capitals last July.
Philp Tied the Bakersfield Condors’ Rookie Goal-Scoring Record
Philp played in three regular-season games with the Bakersfield Condors in the AHL during the 2021-22 season but began to turn heads the following season. He started the 2022-23 campaign on the fourth line and was healthy scratched at times, but he ultimately finished the season as a trusted forward. He contributed on the penalty kill, took important faceoffs, and even had brief stints as the first-line center. Condors head coach Colin Chaulk had the following to say about him that season:
“He skates well, he’s gritty, he’s a good person, he shoots the puck well, he can win faceoffs. It took a bit (learning the pro game), there were some hard reminders but he was open to it. He’s done the work.”
On that note, Philp recorded 37 points (19 goals and 18 assists) in 70 games in 2022-23 and his 19 goals tied the Condors’ rookie record set by Cooper Marody during the 2018-19 season. Moreover, the centerman finished the season strong, recording eight points in the final seven regular season games.
Overall, Philp’s had a strong showing in the exhibition games so far, and if he can maintain his momentum, Edmonton will have all the time in the world for a 6-foot-3, 200-pound, right-handed centerman to round out their bottom six. With that in mind, how many games do you predict Philp will suit up for with the Oilers this season?
