Born in Oakville, ON Kellan Lain played for the Oakville Rangers Midget AAA team in 2005/06. He moved up to the Oakville Blades Jr. A team in the 2007/08 season and skated in 31 games for the Oakville Blades (OPJHL) as an 18-year old. The Blades finished first in the West Division and reached the RBC Cup after winning the provincial championship. Lain provided toughness and secondary scoring the following season. He suffered a career-threatening injury in March when he was cut on the wrist by a skate blade. He played in 47 regular and 18 playoff games before suffering the injury.
October 2009 saw Lain returning to Oakville mid-season after recovering from his injury. The Blades captured the OJHL playoff championship (winning the Dudley Hewitt Cup) to reach the RBC Cup. That year Lain committed to playing hockey at Lake Superior State in 2010/11.
Lain played in 38 games for Lake Superior State as a freshman, playing both center and wing. They finished eighth in the CCHA after sweeping in the first round, they lost in a three game quarterfinal series. Lain concluded his college career following his junior season at Lake Superior, graduating a year early. He signed a one-year free agent contract with the Vancouver Canucks in March 2013. Lain played 13 games with Canucks’ AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. They finished fourth in the Midwest Division and missed the AHL playoffs. Lain was re-signed by Vancouver as a restricted free agent to a two-year contract in July of 2013.
Lain made his NHL debut with the Canucks on January 18, 2014, skating in nine games as a mid-season call-up. He attended his second training camp with Vancouver before being assigned to AHL affiliate Utica prior to the start of the 2014/15 season. Lain was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in November 2014. He earned praise from the coaches and teammates of AHL affiliate Oklahoma City for his all-around play and physical toughness. He suffered a season-ending injury in December of 2014. The 6’6” center brings a physical edge and toughness to the game and he could fill a need for an Edmonton organization currently stocked with high-end offensive forward talent.