Tulsa Jr. Oilers

By Jim Douthat

Ah, spring time in Tulsa! You know it when it arrives. Frantic meteorologists interrupt our favorite television broadcast, itchy watery eyes return, and we are forced to dust off the lawnmower. On the brighter side, the NHL playoffs are in full swing and the boys are back at the ballpark. School will soon be out for summer and our children rejoice, while parents scramble to find them activities. (Mom and Dad check out fulltilthockeyok.com or oilersicecenter.net for cool ideas). Some of us have neatly packed the skates and hung up the broadcast microphones until September. Others, like head coach Zac Desjardins are hitting the road with hopes of finding young talent to bolster a core of returning favorites.

A five city trip covering two countries started on May 7^th for Coach Desjardins. With visits to Langley, British Columbia, Chicago, Denver, Nashville, and Las Vegas (twice, hmmm), Desjardins hopes to find the pieces to fit into an elite returning core. Those “pieces” will be invited to the Junior Oiler prospect camp June 7-9, with the intent of finding players to replace the likes of Bobby Watson, David Morong, and Matt Winkle who carried most of the Junior Oiler offense throughout the season last year.

The core of players’ center around Captain Trevor Ruiz, whose stay at home blue line prowess was key to many of the Junior Oiler victories, as long as he stayed out of the box. With 184 penalty minutes last year, this Captain needs to see this stat head south without losing the intensity he brings to every game. Also returning to play the blue line are Sam Hiserodt, Mike Hutchinson, and Mike Evans. These four defensemen combined for just over 30 points last season, and are key pieces if the Junior Oilers hope to return to the playoffs again. It is obvious Desjardins’ ideology is defense wins hockey games, as four out of the five signed to date all play the blue line. The other returning player is forward Brayton van Gotum from Waddell, AZ. Van Gotum appeared in 45 Junior Oiler games last season, ending with two points and being a work horse for the team. More importantly; he only picked up 31 penalty minutes all season as he played solid disciplined hockey.

So Junior Hockey Fans rejoice! While we are mowing yards, planning summer fun and watching the Canadiens de Montreal challenge, no wait, the Blues fighting for, well heck!! While you’re watching your favorite hockey team and its quest for Lord Stanley, Coach Zac Desjardins is racking up the frequent flyers miles and getting his daily fix of continental breakfast, all for us fans; and the hopes of building on what was truly a successful inaugural Junior Oiler Season.

The Tulsa Jr. Oilers thank you for your interest in our organization and are pleased to extend an invitation to tryout to earn a spot on the team’s 2013-2014 roster.  As we prepare for our second season as part of the Western States Hockey League’s (WSHL) , the Jr. Oilers remain deeply committed to developing highly skilled talent and providing Tulsa and North Eastern Oklahoma with an elite hockey team to support.

Under the direction of Head Coach Zac Desjardins, we will hold our open Prospect Camp in early June of 2013.

Our Tryouts Camps are designed to provide players with the ability to display their talents to our organization through a variety of on-ice methods over a period of multiple days to ensure each young man has a significant opportunity to demonstrate his skills in attempts to earn a spot on the roster.

Those players who receive an invitation to our main camp will receive individualized feedback from our coach,

Becoming part of the Tulsa Jr. Oilers hockey family will allow you to forever be a part of the storied and beloved history of hockey in Tulsa, which is well known for it’s dedication to the game at all levels. Most importantly, the team prides itself on helping all players to achieve their personal best level of play while in a Jr. Oilers uniform and actively assisting with the recruiting efforts of all major colleges and universities.

One of our many goals is to place our players within the best collegiate hockey programs in the country or to help them on the road to playing professional hockey.

By Jim Douthat

This weekend marks what will be the final three home games of the Junior Oilers inaugural season and they welcome to town some familiar faces. The Cheyenne Stampede aka the Tulsa Junior Rampage invade the Oiler’s Ice Center with three games starting this Friday at 5:30pm. Former Tulsa Junior Hockey legend Ty Smith, now the assistant coach of the Stampede, has helped coach his team to a 24-15 record and 50 points, which is good for 3^rd place in the Mountain Division. Tulsa (11-28-0-1) finds themselves 7 points up on last place Wichita in the Mid-West Division standings, with 6 games to play for both. Wichita makes the trip to Dallas this weekend with a three games series against the Ice Jets before returning home to face the Junior Oilers in the regular season finale for both clubs the second weekend in March. It’s tough to root for another club, so I will simply state; I hope Grant Williams gets a hat trick, in all three games!

Tulsa continues to play what is undoubtedly its best hockey of the season and although their record since Jan. 31^st is 4-5, they have been competitive each game. Tyrus Van Matre, Jordan Cartney and Justin Lindgren, are a big reason for this, as the teams goals against has dropped from somewhere around 7, prior to this stretch, to a reasonable 4.44 throughout the last 9 games. Goals have been on the rise as well since David Morong joined the team. His vision of the ice matched with the speed of Bobby Watson and the prowess of Matt Winkle has proved to be an exceptional threat against any opponent. However, team defense has to improve as Tulsa’s dynamic trio has seen their fair share of rubber! The Junior Oilers have allowed an average of 45 shots per game over this 9 game stretch, but the formula for defensive success is simple. If Trevor Ruiz plays to his stay at home potential coupled with a little Langford language for color, this Junior Oiler team could cut down on the shots and take two out of three from the Stampede. A nice welcome home gift for former Jr. Rampage coach and current Stampede head coach Marty Quarters.

All games will be held at the Oilers Ice Center at 64^th and Mingo. Tickets are $10 for Adults and $7 for children. For more info call 918-632-PUCK (7825).

By Jim Douthat

As a parent and a future educator, I am accustom to watching children play on the playground and sometimes get wrapped up in the simplistic joy they have just being in the moment; care free, playing and having fun. You all remember those days. At the Oilers Ice Center on Thursday, the Junior Oilers skated their last practice before, what is arguably their toughest weekend of hockey, and they looked like those afore mentioned children. Loose, smiling, picking on fellow teammates Jason Smalls and Adam Cahill, like any good hockey player should. This is not to say that Head Coach Zac Desjardins did not have them focused and skating hard, as is his M-O, but the atmosphere was, “brotherly”, and it has come at the right time.
Over the last six games the Junior Oilers are 3-2-1, climbing out of the cellar and moving into fourth place in the Mid West Division of the WSHL. How? It’s simple. During this stretch the tripartite tandem of Tyrus Van Matre, Jordan Cartney, and Justin Lindgren have combined for a 3.66 GAA average and a save percentage around .925, a huge improvement from the goals against average which has hovered around 6.5 all season. The entire team is competing for a complete 60 minutes, playing with disciplined on both ends of the ice, and being “consistent” as their Captain Trevor Ruiz has preached all year.
This trend will have to continue as the Dallas Ice Jets invade Tulsa this weekend with 3 games starting today at 3:30 PM at the BOK. The leaders of the Mid West Division (31-3-0-1) are led by their net-minder, Michael Baldwin who boasts a GAA of 2.01, a .923 save percentage and a record of 21-3 between the pipes. Then throw in 3 prolific scorers, who have combined for 190 points and are all in the top ten in scoring within the WSHL, it is safe to say, the Junior Oilers will have their toughest challenge in the franchises history. However, with confidence and camaraderie at an all time high and three goalies who could stop b.b.’s blindfolded in a hurricane, this Band of Brothers are ready to prove to the Ice Jets, us and most importantly themselves, they are a force to be reckoned with and are not the team of games gone by.

“Hockey Weekend across America”
This weekend is the Annual “Hockey Weekend across America” and Tulsa is celebrating in grand style. First the afore mentioned Tulsa Junior Oilers battle the Dallas Ice Jets at 3:30pm both today and Saturday at the BOK and Sunday at 10:30 am at the Oilers Ice Center. The Tulsa Oilers, led by Ryan Menei, Ben Gordon and Shane Madolora take to the ice at the BOK tonight versus Arizona and Saturday against Texas. One paid admission will get you in both games at the BOK. Visit tulsaoilers.com for more information.
Finally the Junior Oiler Mite team (5-8 year olds) coached by former Tulsa Oilers Klage Kaebal and Derek Toninato will host its first annual President’s Day Cup. Teams from Texas, Colorado, Illinois, and Arkansas will compete with games all weekend at the BOK Center and the Oilers Ice Center, and admission is FREE for these games. For more info visit this link http://www.fulltilthockeyok.com/tournament/
Come celebrate the greatest sport and the greatest athletes as the Tulsa community celebrates “Hockey Weekend across America.”

Junior Oilers weekend recap

By Jim Douthat

Thursday night, at the Oilers Ice Center, saw Matt Winkle notch his first career hat trick as a Junior Oiler and his team never looked back. Behind stellar goaltending of Tyrus VanMatre, who had 38 saves, two goals by Andy Howard, three helpers by Bobby Watson, and points by four other Junior Oilers, Tulsa cruised to a 7-3 win over the Wichita Junior Thunder.  A game which both Tim Willey and I thought could be “chippy”, with playoff points on the line, was nothing of the sorts as only three penalties were called the entire game. Tulsa jumped out early, scoring often and never allowed Wichita’s first line, lead by #20 Filip Martinec, to get ramped up. All in all, Tulsa arguably played their best hockey of the year and that trend continued at the BOK Center on Friday and Saturday.

As the weekend rolled in; the Junior Oiler faithful had to be thinking that the BOK Center curse may rear its ugly head again.  Knowing the Junior Oilers had only won once in that building, ever, was on the mind of many. However, Justin Lindgren must not believe much in the “mythical curse” as he back stopped the Junior Oilers, with a 37 save performance, leading them to a 3-2 win over the Junior Thunder.  Wichita opened up the scoring in the first period with a goal by Martin Wszolek, but just over a minute later Bobby Watson made it an even affair with assists from Morong and Langford.  Kyle Messer scored at 2:59 into the second frame giving the Oilers the lead, but Wichita was not done.  Jakub Kolarik took a nice feed from Jan Jindra and put it behind Lindgren tying the game at 2-2.  However, just 28 seconds later, Matt Winkle came up with a loose puck and buried into the Wichita goal giving the lead back to Tulsa; a lead they would not give up.  Lindgren put on a clinic saving his best stuff for the last period, as Tulsa won its second straight game and brushed aside the BOK demons of the past.

Saturday the word “sweep” came to the minds of many.  However, just like you don’t remind your goalie they’re “pitching” a shut out, you sure don’t bring up the word “sweep”; especially since the Junior Oilers have not been in a position such as this all year.  Adding to the “uncharted water” category was the untimely suspension of Head Coach Zac Desjardins, by the league after he played Elliot Langford who was to be suspended.  Let’s just say some WSHL official must not look at their own schedule or know Tulsa is in the central time zone as the email, concerning the suspension, came while Tulsa was playing the game on Friday.  Considering the suspensions of both the Head Coach and Elliot Langford, Tulsa’s leading agitator, taking two out of three from the Junior Thunder would be a victory within itself.  With former Tulsa Oilers great Sly Naud behind the bench, it’s safe to assume he did not allow the Junior Oilers to buy into this ideology, as they exploded for 6 goals in beating the Junior Thunder 6-4.  The fireworks flew throughout this game as the Referee Steve Boyce, handed out 36 penalties totaling 145 minutes and saw Josh Moore of Junior Thunder apparently decide he wanted none of Tulsa’s tough man, Jon Toth, after asking him to go.  Both sat down for unsportsmanlike penalties with an air of fear looming from Moore’s side of the box.  With all the shenanigans, neither team was able to score on any of the numerous power-plays.  Tulsa again had 7 players in the scoring column led by Bobby Watson who had two goals and two assists.  David Morong added two goals of his own, (one assisted by the public address announcer who called the goal prior to him leaving the penalty box), while other goals were scored by Kale Trylinski and Matt Winkle.  Trevor Ruiz, Brandon Harris and Ben Reaman all added assists and Jordan Cartney added another 40 save performance to his resume and the Junior Oilers completed its first sweep of the season.  Next up, the Dallas Ice Jets! All I can say hockey faithful; its time to pack the seats at the BOK and the OIC because your Junior Oilers are playing some great hockey, so… “Let’s goooooooooooooo, TULSA!”

by Jim Douthat

One Point! This is all that separates the Tulsa Junior Oilers and the Wichita Junior Thunder from the final playoff spot in the Mid West Division of the WSHL. I know and I have been told; “it’s too early to talk about the playoffs.” But is it, really? With just 15 games for both teams remaining on the reschedule, Tulsa may have the advantage. Consider this: Tulsa plays 9 of their remaining 15 games at home. For Wichita, only 6 of their remaining games come at home and include trips to play the Ice Jets and the Renegades; trips which could spell certain doom for the Junior Thunder. It is true; Tulsa does have both the Ice Jets and the Cheyenne Stampede on their remaining schedule, but those games are at home, and we all know what Dorothy said, “There’s no place like home.” I would love to speculate looking into my crystal ball and tell you the Junior Oilers will be comfortably ahead of Wichita by the final 3 games, but I have been a hockey fan to long in this great city, and we love our drama. All this may come down to the final 3 game set between these to fine hockey clubs, and it may play out in Wichita in early March.
For now, Tulsa hockey fans and sports enthusiasts alike have a rare opportunity this weekend as Friday and Saturday the BOK center, in downtown Tulsa, will host both the Junior Oilers and the Tulsa Oilers, (the Junior Oilers parent club) on Friday and Saturday in what is being called “Double Header Days at the BOK.” One ticket gets two great hockey games. First on Friday, the Junior Oilers battle the Junior Thunder at 3:30 pm followed by Tulsa and Missouri at 7:05. On Saturday, the two afore mentioned junior teams take the ice at 3:30 and then Tulsa takes on the Missouri Mavericks at 7:35 with its annual “Pink n the Rink” sponsored by News Channel 8 and benefitting “Turn Tulsa Pink.” So with the Super Bowl on Sunday and a double dip of hockey both Friday and Saturday, Tulsa sports fans will have one crazy weekend.