After being called up by the big club and putting up some impressive numbers for the final one-sixth of the NHL campaign last year, Airdrie's Ty Rattie is looking forward to getting the 2018 - 2019 campaign underway and proving that he can play the full season with the Edmonton Oilers.  

Rattie was back in his hometown to help with the Canada Day festivities yesterday (July 1).  Last season was a bit of a blur for Rattie.  He played most of the season in the American Hockey League with the Bakersfield Condors.  Rattie ended the season tied for second place in team scoring, even though he played 15 fewer games with the team than the other two leaders.

With 14 games left in the NHL season, Rattie was called up to play with the Edmonton Oilers.  He was put on a line with Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and the three clicked immediately with Rattie scoring five goals and adding four assists in those 14 games.  Rattie says the rollercoaster ride was a good thing,

"I think it was a year that I needed after a bit of a whirlwind year last year.  I went down to Bakersfield and had a real good start and I went up to Edmonton and I thought I proved to myself and the organization that I could play there on a regular basis.  I was happy with my season and I'm looking forward to next season."

Rattie says he saw being on a line with McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins as a chance to learn from two talented players, an opportunity he relished.  

"Obviously two very good players, obviously McDavid's the best player in the game.  You learn something from every shift and just watching those guys, how hard they work in practice and off the ice and stuff like that.  It's easy to learn and you just kind of gotta be a sponge when you play with guys like that."

Rattie says he was a bit surprised to be put on the line but treated it as a last-ditch opportunity to show what he was capable of.  He says, "You can't get a better opportunity than that, playing with those two guys.  I kind of treated it like a last chance thing and I better produce or maybe it's time to move on.  I'm happy I produced."

Immediately after last season, the Oilers signed Rattie to a one year contract.  He says it's good to know the team wants him, and the feeling is reciprocal.

"It's nice to get it done right away and just know where you're going to end up and have that kind of ease feeling in the back of your mind.  I'm extremely happy to be back with the Oilers and I just need to prove to everyone that I can be an everyday player now."

Rattie is not just looking forward to the season to prove he belongs with the Oilers.  He and the rest of the team are also looking to show they're a much better team than missed the playoffs in 2018.  According to Rattie, they will do that.

"For sure.  I think it was a bit of a down year all around.  There's not really anything you can pinpoint to it but that's in the past, the season's over and next year's a new season.  We have a team that can go far and do something special, we just have to go out there and do it."

Rattie was at a booth having his picture taken with fans during the Canada Day celebration.  He says he spends a lot of time in Airdrie during the off-season, and wouldn't have it any other way.

"No better place I'd rather be.  I have a house here, family, friends here.  I always come back here, always will, and I can't think of a better place to be."

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