Tulsa Jr. Oilers

Just over a year after the Rampage packed their bags and headed for Cheyenne Wyoming, the Western States Hockey League has returned to Tulsa, Oklahoma in the form of the Jr. Oilers.

Bringing a junior team back to an area that has long supported a semi-professional team with a burgeoning youth hockey system, was a no-brainer for owner Mike Messer.

Another no-brainer came when having to hire a head coach, as he quickly turned the keys over to Zac Desjardins, who knows both the league and the area very well, having coached for the now defunct San Antonio Diablos.

Although the league has changed a lot over the two seasons Desjardins has been away from it, up from 12 teams in 2010 to 22 in 2012, the hardworking mentality in the area is still the prevalent style of play and will come in handy in the hard-hitting Midwest Division.

Desjardins comes in knowing year one is not going to be an easy road but feels he can help the Jr. Oilers establish themselves in Tulsa. The goal is for the Jr. Oilers to start reeling in some of the top local players, who often times depart for nearby cities like Dallas or Oklahoma City to further their hockey careers. He is intrigued with the level of the youth system in the city but feels it’s tough to retain some of the top talent as they progress and wants the Jr. Oilers to be a reason for them to stay.

To do this, Desjardins understands he has to find a good balance of both winning and moving players on; the latter being the most important to him.

It’s an odd double edge sword in junior hockey, especially at the Tier III level. No prospect wants to play for a doormat and at the same time, teams that dominate are generally viewed as, “holding their top players back in order to win games.”

He took the job knowing that the WSHL is a developmental league and takes pride in moving his players up every year, while seeing winning as a bonus.

In year one however, in order to build the organization and recruit players for years to come, the Jr. Oilers will need to be competitive and he feels he’s put together a team that will be just that.

He’s composed his roster of hardworking players from the surrounding local area, while also bringing in a good amount of talent from the state of Colorado, where he most recently coached. The Jr. Oilers aren’t going to be the most skilled team in the league this season but what they will be is a great representation of the blue-collar region they play in; a team that leaves everything they have on the ice and is tough to play against, regardless of their place in the standings.

A key recruiting tool that Desjardins will have at his disposal, is the Central Hockey League’s Oilers, who his players will be able to work with and hopefully learn and develop quicker and maybe a few years down the road even play for the big club.

Offense:

The group of forwards Desjardins has put together is one of the few in the league void of an import player, who are usually relied on for their top-end skill. He has chosen instead to fill his roster with less “flashy” players, who will work hard and fit perfectly into the system.

Brayton Van Gotum is a kid that has only been playing organized hockey for a handful of years but has already developed into a solid power forward.

Matt Winkle and Ben Reaman are two of the small army of Colorado natives on the Jr. Oilers roster and each are both expected to benefit from a ton of playing time.

Landon Whomble and Kyle Messer have both come up through the Tulsa youth program and the Jr. Oilers want to make them the poster children for moving up through the system.

They certainly won’t lead the league in scoring but Tulsa’s offense is a group that will hope to wear down their opponent over long weekends and get their fair share of greasy goals.

Defense:

Desjardins was very excited to sign defenseman Trevor Ruiz early in the recruiting season, bringing in a guy with junior experience who has already established himself as a leader.

The California native is often spotted working hard after practice and doing everything he can to improve, setting an example for the younger players.

Andy Howard is another one of the Colorado kids and is described as a towering defenseman who clears the crease with ease. He’s also got a big shot from the point, which Desjardins is sure to make use of on the power play.

Rounding the group out is Brandon Harris, Mike Evans and Sam Hiserodt, all of whom Desjardins expects to grow in their first year of junior hockey.

Desjardins feels that the defense will be one of the team’s strengths and that by the end of the season, many of them will be ready to move up a level.

Goaltending:

The goaltending situation is going to be an interesting one for the Jr. Oilers, as there are currently four guys on the roster still fighting three spots. None of them have grabbed the starting role yet either, making Desjardins’ decision that much tougher.

The group is made up of two imports; Jordan Cartney of Calgary, Alberta and Chris James out of Burlington, Ontario, as well as Tyrus Vanmatre of Colorado and Justin Lindgren from Hanahan, South Carolina.

Desjardins hopes one of the four will rise to the top next weekend when they open the season in Grapevine, Texas against the Dallas Ice Jets.

The opening weekend will be a great introduction to the WSHL for the Jr. Oilers, as three games in hostile territory against the favorite in their division will certainly bring out their true colors.

Also competing in the new Midwest Division this season are the Texas Jr. Brahmas, Dallas Snipers and another first-year program, the Wichita Jr. Thunder. The Jr. Oilers will be introduced to their division rivals right off the bat, beginning their inaugural season with 12-straight divisional contests.

With only one team missing the playoffs, you know it will be as tight as ever.

We’ll check back after game number 12 but Desjardins vows his team will not quit and that hard work in the Midwest heat will eventually pay off.

Win or lose, the Western States Hockey League is happy to have a team back in Tulsa this year.

Brent Maranto is the Director of Communications for the Western States Hockey League