KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Edmonton Oilers have signed forward Owen Michaels to a one-year entry-level contract beginning in the 2025-26 season.

Michaels captained the Broncos in 2025-26, leading the Brown and Gold to a 27-win season and a fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. WMU was also a No. 1 seed for the third time in the last five years. 

The Northville, Mich. native has been a mainstay in the lineup for Western Michigan, skating in 119 career games. In that time, he was able to produce 69 points on 33 goals and 36 assists. Along with that, he won 938 faceoffs and was +43. 

He took his game to another level over the last two seasons, producing 62 of his 69 points in his sophomore and junior seasons. As a sophomore, Michaels helped take the program to new heights. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Frozen Four, helping WMU to its first National Championship in program history. He finished the year with 36 points on 18 goals and 18 assists. 

He followed that up with a great junior season, ending the 2025-26 campaign with 26 points on 13 goals and 13 assists. He won 58.9 percent of his draws and finished top five in the nation with 463 total faceoffs won. He also added a career-high four game-winning goals. 

Along the way, Michaels was a three-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award in 2025-26. 

"The last three years at Western Michigan have been the best years of my life," Michaels said. "This program and university is full of unbelievable people that truly want to see you succeed in life. I am leaving this place a better person and cannot thank my coaches, teammates, support staff, fans and administrators enough for all they've done for me. I am a Bronco for life!"