Messier's son trys out with Oil Kings

Somehow I missed this before today, but Mark Messier's son, Lyon, is trying out with Edmonton's newest franchise, the expansion Oil Kings of the WHL:

Lyon was asked if he has thought about how emotional it might be for him to play for the Oil Kings in the arena where his dad won Stanley Cups, and where his jersey hangs in the rafters.

"I am thrilled to be here where my Dad played and have an opportunity to play where he played and help the team out," Lyon said. "It's going to be a good experience and I'm just going to try to do my best."

That's certainly an awfully big name to carry around Edmonton, let alone as a fringe player on what will likely be a struggling junior hockey entity trying to find its way.

Messier's one of 12 defencemen left on the team's training camp roster, currently sitting with 30 skaters and four 'tenders. Also of note in the 'name' department are Lance Redden and Scott Skrudland, Wade Redden's cousin and Brian Skrudland's nephew.

Now there's a team built on bloodlines.