It has been two decades since Edmonton Oilers forward Fernando Pisani became a local hero during the 2006 playoff run, but now the spotlight shines on his son, Jaxon Pisani. The 17-year-old rookie defenseman is heading to the Memorial Cup with the Everett Silvertips, who recently captured the WHL championship.
Jaxon, who turned 17 in late March, joined the Silvertips as a rookie and has quickly made an impact. The team will compete in the Memorial Cup alongside the host Kelowna Rockets, Kitchener Rangers, and Chicoutimi Sagueneens.
A Dream Season for the Young Pisani
Fernando Pisani expressed his pride in his son's achievements, noting the rarity of such an opportunity. "It's been a blast for Jaxon. A great way to spend your first year. I told him, 'Just so you know, this doesn't happen all the time,'" said Fernando, who coached Jaxon through minor hockey in St. Albert before handing him off to Steve Hamilton, son of former Oiler Al Hamilton.
Jaxon acknowledged the support from his teammates, some of whom have been in the league for years. "Yeah, guys on my team, guys who've played four years in this league, are telling me how lucky I am ... to be part of a good team, so young," he said.
Stepping Up in the Playoffs
Jaxon played 48 regular-season games and earned a spot in the playoff lineup after Tarin Smith, a third-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2024, suffered a shoulder or collarbone injury in Game 4 of the first round against Portland. The Silvertips went 16-2 in the postseason, defeating the Prince Albert Raiders in five games in the WHL final.
Fernando drew parallels to his own NHL career. "As the playoffs started he was the young guy and they were going to go with the more experienced group, and then Smith got hurt and Jax got rewarded ... obviously you don't want to see anybody get hurt but as I said to him if you look at my Oiler career, (Mike) Comrie got hurt and they called somebody up, and that was my window," he recalled.
Jaxon expressed mixed feelings about his opportunity. "It sucks seeing Tarin out but it gave me a huge step. I'm playing for him," he said.
Development and Potential
Hamilton, who coached the Silvertips to a 57-8-3 record, praised Jaxon's growth. "Jaxon's improved so much over the year. Good puck mover and he's become a very reliable third pair guy now with high potential," said Hamilton, whose father Al played defense for the Oilers.
Jaxon, originally a forward until age nine, transitioned to defense and has excelled. He put up strong numbers as a 15-year-old in U18 competition in St. Albert, quarterbacking the power play. However, Everett boasts phenom Landon DuPont, a likely 2027 first-overall NHL pick with 73 points this season, and 2026 draft-eligible Brett Liske for offensive duties. Smith was also an offensive contributor.
As the Memorial Cup approaches, Jaxon is ready for the challenge. "Steve's great. He's honest and he knows what he's doing. He won a Memorial Cup himself. He knows what this tournament is all about, how much fun it is," said Jaxon, preparing for the 106th edition starting Friday.
