Written by: Scott Savard
Headline photo: Chad Goddard
Okotoks, AB (April 15, 2026) – Oilers alumni, Rieger Lorenz, has had a busy week as he picked up his second Frozen Four NCAA Division I NCAA Championship in a 2-1 win over the University of Wisconsin, then shortly after, signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild.
Lorenz, who turned 22 at the end of March, now joins the Iowa Wild after taking part in four seasons with the University of Denver, including being awarded a leadership role as assistant captain this season. He would appear in 168 games over the four seasons as he produced 94 points (41G, 53A) with his career highs in goals (17), assists (18), and points (35) all coming during the 2025-2026 campagin. Lorenz during the 2024 Frozen Four NCAA Division I National Championship game picked up a goal and an assist in the 2-0 win to help his group win the first of two Frozen Four championships in three seasons. Current Vancouver Canuck, Zeev Buium picked up the assist in Lorenz’s insurance marker during the 2024 Frozen Four tournament final.
Before jumoing into post-secondary hockey, Lorenz played in 68 games across three seasons with the Green and Gold with 60 of those games coming during the 2021-2022 season. He played in his first game as an Oiler during the 2018-2019 season, before getting the call to join the team full time during the 2020-2021 season which was cut short due to COVID. Once things got back underway in the 2021-2022 campagin, Lorenz would dominate with his team leading 38 goals (fourth best in franchise history), 47 assists (fourth best in franchise history), and 85 points (third best in franchise history) in 60 games. Things continued to work for Lorenz during the 2021-2022 post-season as he put up 11 points (2G, 9A) in 14 games.
The 2021-2022 season would also see Lorenz hit the ice for the Canada U18 team during his monster performance with the Oilers and came away with four assists in as many games.
Lorenz currently sits in third place in points per game in Oilers franchise history with a 1.29.
His first possible game for the AHL’s Iowa Wild comes tonight on home ice as former Oiler and teammate of Lorenz, Dylan James, travels with his new team the Grand Rapids Griffins tonight at 6:00.
The early bird season ticket sales have gone live. Make sure to get yours at: https://tickets.okotoksoilers.com/events/40207-2026-27-early-bird-season-tickets
The Okotoks Oilers are a not-for-profit, community-run junior hockey franchise competing in the BCHL and operating out of Viking Rentals Centre. For more information, visit okotoksoilers.com or follow the Oilers on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
