EDMONTON – University of Calgary Dinos goaltender Nathan Deobald will be on the roster for the Edmonton Oilers in tonight's National Hockey League contest against the Vancouver Canucks at Rexall Place.

Deobald got the call Tuesday morning, caught a mid-afternoon flight to Edmonton, and was signed by the Oilers to an Amateur Tryout (ATO). The Oilers confirmed late Tuesday that Deobald will indeed dress for tonight's game.

He will back up Jeff Deslauriers in the Oilers' cage as an emergency call-up to replace Devan Dubnyk, who is ill. The game will be telecast by the Oilers Pay-Per-View network.

A 26-year old native of North Battleford, Sask., Deobald joined the Dinos prior to the 2007-08 season after spending a year each with SAIT and Mount Royal of the ACAC. A product of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, where he saw time with both Kindersley and Weyburn, Deobald also spent one season with Moose Jaw of the Western Hockey League.

A fine arts student studying drama at the University of Calgary, Deobald made one appearance in goal for the Dinos this season – and it couldn't have been a more pressure-filled situation. After starter Dustin Butler was injured and backup Jeff Weber ejected and suspended following Game 1 of the Dinos' first-round playoff series against the Alberta Golden Bears, Deobald was called up and started Game 2 of the series March 6 at Clare Drake Arena in Edmonton.

The 5'9”, 175-pound netminder filled in admirably, making 27 saves – many of the spectacular variety – in a 3-1 loss to the Bears.

Deobald is not the only Dinos goaltender to get a taste of the big leagues this season. Weber, a fifth-year senior, spent much of the Olympic break as a practice player for the Calgary Flames with Miikka Kiprusoff absent representing Finland at Vancouver 2010.

-UC-