TULSA, OK – Another game, another head-scratching loss for the Tulsa Oilers.

Tulsa had seven powerplays, put up 35 shots on goal, and still couldn’t muster any offense in a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Rapid City Rush (31-19-6) on Tuesday night in front of 3,323 at the BOK Center.  For the ninth straight game, the Oilers (25-25-6) failed to score more than two goals.

Oilers rookie defenseman Jeff Terminesi snapped a shot past Rush goalie Tim Boron at the 5:14 mark of the first period to give the home team an early advantage.  But from there, as it has so many times over the last three weeks, the puck simply refused to cross the line.

Halfway through the middle period, Jordan Behler scored his second professional goal on a wrist shot from the right circle.  The powerplay marker pulled the Rush even as Behler found the net for the second straight game.

An early third period turnover in the Oilers zone led to a short breakaway for Rush defensemen Andrew Smale who fired through the legs of Tulsa goalie Ian Keserich to give Rapid City its first lead of the evening.  After the Oilers failed to convert on two third period powerplays, Smale bullied his way to the empty net with 33 seconds left to clinch the game for Rapid City.

Tulsa finished the season series against the Rush with a record of 1-2-2.  The Oilers remain one point behind Rio Grande Valley for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Berry Conference.

The Oilers wrap up their three-game home stand on Friday night at 7:35 p.m. against the Quad City Mallards.  It’s Military Night at the BOK Center and the Oilers players will wear special camouflage jerseys which will be auctioned off after the game.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 6th, 2012 at 11:14 pm and is filed under CHL News, News, Oilers News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Tuesday, March 6 vs. Rapid City at 7:05 pm Tuesday means $2 beer at the BOK Center and it’s another Papa John’s College Night.  College kids who present a valid student ID at the box office will receive a ticket to the game and a coupon for a large, one-topping Papa John’s pizza for only $12.  The Oilers will try to make it two straight over the Rush and jump back into a playoff spot. BUY TICKETS NOW FOR GAME TONIGHT Week In Review: The Oilers went 1-2 last week, suffering setbacks against Missouri and Bloomington, and prevailing over Rapid City on Saturday. Last Tuesday, Tulsa gained an early lead on Missouri but the Mavs responded with four unanswered goals and skated out of the BOK Center with a 4-2 victory.  Mike Ullrich and David Solway provided the offense for Tulsa which outshot Missouri 34-23.  The Oilers are now 0-4 this season against the Mavericks with five more meetings still to come. Friday, the Oilers made their third and final trip to Bloomington.  Just like the previous contests in U.S. Cellular Coliseum, the Blaze found a way to sneak past the Oilers with a 3-1 win.  Tulsa goalie Ian Keserich stopped 41 shots as the Oilers dropped their fourth straight game and sixth in a row on the road. The Oilers returned home Saturday night for the first of two in a row against Rapid City.  Veteran forward Michel Beausoleil tallied twice for Tulsa and Keserich stood tall in net to preserve a 2-1 victory.  It was the Oilers first win in four tries this season against the Rush. Schedule Unkind:  Tulsa trails Rio Grande by a single point for the final playoff spot, but has three games in hand on the Killer Bees.  The Oilers will play 11 more games against teams with an average winning percentage of .563 while the Bees have 8 games remaining against opponents with an average winning percentage of .436.  Quad City, at .571, is the only team on Rio Grande’s remaining schedule with a winning record. Search For Offense Continues:  The 2-1 win over Rapid City on Saturday marked just the fourth time this season the Oilers have won when scoring two goals or less.  Tulsa is 2-5-1 in its last seven contests and has failed to score more than two goals in any of those games. Health and Healing:  The Oilers have been forced to skate with a depleted lineup several times over the last few weeks, but thankfully for Head Coach Bruce Ramsay, his team is getting healthy at the right time.   Rookie forward Ryan Raven, who spent 46 days on the injured reserve, returned to action last Tuesday against Missouri.  Toughman Tyler Sheldrake, sidelined for 13 games, also suited up against Missouri and fought in the first period.   Sean Erickson, one of Tulsa’s top defensemen, was cleared to play Saturday against Rapid City and had an immediate impact by notching an assist on Michel Beausoleil’s game-winning goal. Keserich Finding Form:  Despite starting only three of the last nine games, Oilers netminder Ian Keserich still ranks fourth in the CHL in appearances (38) and is one of only six goalies in the league to log more than 2,000 minutes in net this season.  In his last two outings, the fifth-year pro out of Cleveland, Ohio has 62 saves on 65 shots.  Keserich is three wins shy of tying his career-high of 22 wins from last season. Upcoming Games:  The Oilers play host to Rapid City on Tuesday before beginning a home-and-home series Friday and Saturday with Quad City.  The Oilers will wrap up the week with their third visit to Missouri on Sunday. Friday, March 9 vs. Quad City at 7:35 pm Help the Oilers honor our country and our brave men and women in uniform at Military Night.  The Oilers players will wear special camouflage jerseys which will be auctioned off at the ONEOK Club after the game against the Mallards.  It’s an evening of patriotism and a way for the Oilers to say thank you to all of the outstanding military personnel serving around the world.  Celebrate your freedom and watch the Oilers take the flight right out of the Mallards!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 6th, 2012 at 9:26 am and is filed under CHL News, News, Oilers News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Week In Review:  The Oilers went 1-2 last week, suffering setbacks against Missouri and Bloomington, and prevailing over Rapid City on Saturday.

Last Tuesday, Tulsa gained an early lead on Missouri but the Mavs responded with four unanswered goals and skated out of the BOK Center with a 4-2 victory.  Mike Ullrich and David Solway provided the offense for Tulsa which outshot Missouri 34-23.  The Oilers are now 0-4 this season against the Mavericks with five more meetings still to come.

Friday, the Oilers made their third and final trip to Bloomington.  Just like the previous contests in U.S. Cellular Coliseum, the Blaze found a way to sneak past the Oilers with a 3-1 win.  Tulsa goalie Ian Keserich stopped 41 shots as the Oilers dropped their fourth straight game and sixth in a row on the road.

The Oilers returned home Saturday night for the first of two in a row against Rapid City.  Veteran forward Michel Beausoleil tallied twice for Tulsa and Keserich stood tall in net to preserve a 2-1 victory.  It was the Oilers first win in four tries this season against the Rush.

Schedule Unkind:  Tulsa trails Rio Grande by a single point for the final playoff spot, but has three games in hand on the Killer Bees.  The Oilers will play 11 more games against teams with an average winning percentage of .563 while the Bees have 8 games remaining against opponents with an average winning percentage of .436.  Quad City, at .571, is the only team on Rio Grande’s remaining schedule with a winning record.

Search For Offense Continues:  The 2-1 win over Rapid City on Saturday marked just the fourth time this season the Oilers have won when scoring two goals or less.  Tulsa is 2-5-1 in its last seven contests and has failed to score more than two goals in any of those games.

Health and Healing:  The Oilers have been forced to skate with a depleted lineup several times over the last few weeks, but thankfully for Head Coach Bruce Ramsay, his team is getting healthy at the right time.   Rookie forward Ryan Raven, who spent 46 days on the injured reserve, returned to action last Tuesday against Missouri.  Toughman Tyler Sheldrake, sidelined for 13 games, also suited up against Missouri and fought in the first period.   Sean Erickson, one of Tulsa’s top defensemen, was cleared to play Saturday against Rapid City and had an immediate impact by notching an assist on Michel Beausoleil’s game-winning goal.

Keserich Finding Form:  Despite starting only three of the last nine games, Oilers netminder Ian Keserich still ranks fourth in the CHL in appearances (38) and is one of only six goalies in the league to log more than 2,000 minutes in net this season.  In his last two outings, the fifth-year pro out of Cleveland, Ohio has 62 saves on 65 shots.  Keserich is three wins shy of tying his career-high of 22 wins from last season.

Upcoming Games:  The Oilers play host to Rapid City on Tuesday before beginning a home-and-home series Friday and Saturday with Quad City.  The Oilers will wrap up the week with their third visit to Missouri on Sunday.

Tuesday, March 6 vs. Rapid City at 7:05 pm – Tuesday means $2 beer at the BOK Center and it’s another Papa John’s College Night.  College kids who present a valid student ID at the box office will receive a ticket to the game and a coupon for a large, one-topping Papa John’s pizza for only $12.  The Oilers will try to make it two straight over the Rush and jump back into a playoff spot.

Friday, March 9 vs. Quad City at 7:35 pm – Help the Oilers honor our country and our brave men and women in uniform at Military Night.  The Oilers players will wear special camouflage jerseys which will be auctioned off at the ONEOK Club after the game against the Mallards.  It’s an evening of patriotism and a way for the Oilers to say thank you to all of the outstanding military personnel serving around the world.  Celebrate your freedom and watch the Oilers take the flight right out of the Mallards!

This entry was posted on Monday, March 5th, 2012 at 4:47 pm and is filed under CHL News, News, Oilers News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

TULSA, OK – The Oilers didn’t get an explosion of offense on Saturday night, but what they got was enough to post a well-earned 2-1 victory over Rapid City (30-19-6) in front of 5,488 at the BOK Center.

Tulsa (25-24-6), which has now scored two goals or less in eight straight contests, moved back into fourth place in the Berry Conference thanks to Rio Grande’s loss at Texas.

Halfway through the first period, David Solway’s set-up led to the Oilers first goal.  Solway, came down the high-slot and fed a waiting Michel Beausoleil who one-timed a laser past Tim Boron.

With the score still 1-0 in the second, Beausoleil found the back of the net again.  On a Tulsa powerplay, Sean Erickson’s drive was stopped by Boron, but Beausoleil’s spinning backhand beat the Rush goalie to give Tulsa a two-goal advantage.  Rapid City defenseman Jordan Behler netted his first goal of the year to cut the Oilers lead in half, but Tulsa put the clamps on the Rush in the final frame.

The visitors managed only five shots on net over the last twenty minutes and all were turned aside by Ian Keserich who picked up his 19^th win of the season.  Erickson, who returned to the lineup after missing 11 games due to injury, gave stability to the Oilers blue line and created several chances in the offensive zone.

The Oilers snapped a four-game losing streak and beat the Rush for the first time in four tries this season.  The two sides will meet again Tuesday night in Tulsa to wrap up the season series.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 4th, 2012 at 12:17 am and is filed under CHL News, News, Oilers News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

BLOOMINGTON, IL – The U.S. Cellular Coliseum will not be remembered fondly by this crop of Tulsa Oilers.  Bloomington surged ahead of the Oilers in the third period to post a 3-1 victory and send the Oilers to a sixth straight road loss.  Tulsa fell to 0-3 in Bloomington as the season series with the Blaze came to an end.

After a scoreless first period, Brandon Richardson broke through for the Blaze when he re-directed Omar Pacha’s point shot past Ian Keserich.  The Oilers answered on the powerplay with Troy Ofukany poking home a rebound off a drive from Gary Steffes.

Bloomington started the final frame on the powerplay and took full advantage.  Jon Booras, the Blaze’s leading goal scorer, shoved a loose puck past Keserich to give the home team the lead for good.  Zane Kalemba made several sparkling stops down the stretch as he shut down the Oilers to preserve the win.  Jerry Pollastrone added a late empty net goal to put the contest out of reach. Keserich, who made 41 stops of his own, took the loss, his 13^th setback of the season.

The Oilers, who haven’t won a road game since January 27^th, return home tomorrow night to face the Rapid City Rush at 7:35 p.m.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 2nd, 2012 at 10:45 pm and is filed under CHL News, News, Oilers News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

UPCOMING GAMES – MARCH

Saturday, March 3 vs. Rapid City Rush at 7:35 p.m

The final month of the regular season begins and every game takes on a higher level of importance for the Oilers as they chase down a playoff spot.  Show the Oilers your support as they take on the Rush, and you’ll be rewarded!  The first 3,000 fans (21 and over) through the BOK Center doors will receive $10 in free match play at River Spirit Casino.  Cheer the Oilers on to victory and put cash in your hand!  Only a handful of home games remain, don’t miss your chance to catch the hard-hitting action when the Oilers halt the Rush!

Tuesday, March 6 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Rapid City Rush

The Rush are back at the BOK to close out the season series with the Oilers and you’ll want to rush to the rink for $2 beer and soda!  Tuesday night means College Night and thanks to Papa John’s, college students can get a ticket to the game and a large, one-topping pizza for only $12.  Bring your friends and bring your thirst as the Oilers put the brakes on the Rush!

Friday, March 9 at 7:35 p.m. vs. Quad City Mallards

The Oilers are proud to salute our brave men and women in the Armed Forces with a special night paying tribute to the military.  The Tulsa players will be wearing one-of-a-kind camouflage jerseys which will be auctioned off at the OneOk Club after the game.  Active members of the military and veterans can receive discounted tickets by visiting tulsaoilers.com and clicking on “Tickets.”  Help the Oilers show support for our troops, honor our veterans, and thank them for the freedom that we enjoy in this great country.  Wear your red, white, and blue to cheer on the Oilers as they try to take the flight out of the Mallards!

Friday, March 16 at 7:35 p.m. vs. Arizona Sundogs

It’s Kids Night at the BOK Center and that means a free youth jersey for the first 500 kids (12 and under) through the doors!  Earlier in the season, the Oilers most popular promotion led to a crowd of more than 10,000!  This time around, the Oilers want to crush that number, but they need your help.  If you want to get your hands on a jersey, you must show up early and you must go through the Box Office entrance at the BOK Center.  Kids will also receive a pair of Oilers thunder-sticks to make as much noise as possible so the Sundogs won’t stand a chance.  The night is made possible by Supercuts and Verizon Wireless, so mark your calendar now for a night of fun with the Oilers!

Sunday, March 18 at 4:05 p.m. vs. Missouri Mavericks

It’s Faith and Family Day at the BOK Center as the Mavericks roll into town.  It’s the perfect afternoon to bring your church members, youth group, or family members out to the rink for a celebration of faith.  The first 500 fans into the arena will receive a free Bible courtesy of Lifeway Christian Stores and portions of ticket sales will go to benefit the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  You’ll be entertained by live music and you’ll hear how faith plays a role in the lives of the Oilers players.  After the game, bring your kids down to the ice for a skate with the Oilers.  It’s a perfect opportunity to meet the Oilers, take pictures, get autographs, and create memories for your family.  Embrace your faith and family as the Oilers take down the Mavericks!

Tuesday, March 20 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Laredo Bucks

Enjoy a $2 beer or soda and watch the Oilers blast the Bucks for the final time this season.  It’s also a Papa John’s College Night so students can take a break from the books and experience an affordable night of entertainment.  Why wait for the weekend?  Break up the monotony of the work week by checking out the hits, fights, and goals at the BOK Center!

Friday, March 23 at 7:35 p.m. vs. Texas Brahmas

The Oilers want to thank all their loyal supporters with a Fan Appreciation Night as they buck the Brahmas one last time. There will be special giveaways throughout the night and player awards will be handed out before the game.  The world-famous Bob is also making a special appearance!  Bring the kids to catch all of Bob’s antics and give them a chance to meet their favorite character!  The Oilers owe so much of their success to you the fan, and you deserve to be appreciated.  Let the Oilers show you some love with a night of non-stop entertainment!

Sunday, March 25 at 4:05 p.m. vs. Missouri Mavericks

The regular season comes to an end with one last visit from the Mavericks.  Papa John’s Family Packs are available which means you can get four tickets to the game and a large, one-topping pizza starting for just $49!  After the Oilers tame the Mavs, lace up those skates and hit the ice with the Oilers players for the final post-game skate of the season.  It’s your last chance to meet your favorite Oilers!  Finish your weekend by making memories with your family and sending the Oilers into the playoffs on a winning note!.

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 1st, 2012 at 7:18 pm and is filed under CHL News, News, Oilers News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

TULSA, OK – Simply put, the Missouri Mavericks have the Oilers number.

The Mavericks )30-19-5) posted a 4-2 win over the Oilers (24-23-6) on Tuesday night at the BOK Center to improve to 4-0 this season against Tulsa.

Despite controlling the first period in which they directed 14 shots at Mavs goalie Charlie Effinger, the Oilers had nothing to show for their efforts and were locked in a scoreless tie after the opening frame.

David Solway recorded the game’s first goal at the 3:09 mark of the second when he walked out of the corner and found space to shoot in the low slot.  The rookie forward’s wrist shot beat Effinger and the Oilers enjoyed their only lead of the game.  That lead disintegrated just 34 seconds later when Kris Hogg rifled a loose puck past Steve Christie to even the contest.  Dave Pszenyczny put the Mavs up for good with a powerplay tally at 8:14 that sent the visitors into the third period with a 2-1 edge.

Mavericks rookie Andrew Courtney buried a couple of point blank chances in the third to push his team’s lead to three goals.  Tulsa answered back quickly with a tip-in from Mike Ullrich, but that was all the offense Effinger would allow.  The Missouri netminder turned aside 32 shots en route to his 25^th victory of the season.

It was Tulsa’s third straight loss and marked the sixth game in a row the Oilers have failed to score more than two goals.  The Oilers finished February with a 3-8-1 record and will hope for a turnaround when they begin the final month of the regular season with a road contest at Bloomington on Friday.

To make matters worse for the Oilers, Rio Grande Valley picked up a win over Laredo Tuesday night to pull within one point of Tulsa for the final Berry Conference playoff spot.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 28th, 2012 at 11:23 pm and is filed under CHL News, News, Oilers News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Tuesday, February 28 vs. Missouri Mavericks at 7:05 p.m. The Mavericks got the best of the Oilers last time they were in Tulsa so the Oilers need you provide a raucous, unfriendly atmosphere for the visitors!  After a hard day’s work, you deserve to kick back with a cold one and the Oilers have you covered.  Beer is $2 all night long at the BOK Center!  Plus, it’s another Papa John’s College Night so it’s more affordable than ever to witness the Oilers maul the Mavericks! BUY TICKETS NOW FOR GAME TONIGHT Week In Review:  Tulsa went 1-2-1 over the last seven days and started off the week with a 2-1 overtime loss at home to Fort Wayne.  Oilers goalie Steve Christie stood tall in net, making 42 saves on 44 Komets shots.  Kaleigh Shrock put home the game-winning goal for the visitors, but Tulsa was able to salvage a valuable point. Friday night, the Oilers concluded their six-game home stand and began a three-game weekend series against Texas.  In a 2-1 win over the Brahmas, Tulsa’s offense came from the unlikeliest of sources.  Defenseman Tyler Fleck, who hadn’t scored a goal all season, rifled home a shot from the slot to give the Oilers an early lead.  Fleck’s fellow d-man, Gio Flamminio, notched just his second goal of the season when he provided the Oilers with the insurance marker early in the third period.  Tulsa got another sterling performance from Christie who turned aside 29 shots to preserve the victory. The weekend series shifted to Fort Worth for Saturday and Sunday’s contests.  The Oilers took a 1-0 lead into the third period on Saturday, but the Brahmas stormed back to post a 3-1 win.  Less than 24 hours later, the Oilers, playing with a depleted bench of only 13 skaters, held two leads over the Brahmas but couldn’t sustain their edge.  For the second straight night, Texas scored three unanswered goals and pulled away for a 4-2 win. Tulsa, which has two games in hand on Rio Grande Valley, remains three points up on the Killer Bees for the final playoff spot in the Berry Conference. Fleck Joins 700 Club:  Sunday’s tilt against Texas was the 700th professional game of Tyler Fleck’s outstanding career. The Tulsa captain has played every one of his games in the CHL and ranks fifth in the league in all-time games played. Fleck, who has played in all 52 contests this season, has a goal and five assists, and assumes the role of the Oilers unquestioned leader both on and off the ice.  The 33-year old Saskatchewan native turned pro in 1999 and spent eight productive seasons patrolling the blue line for the Oklahoma City Blazers.  Fleck played briefly for the Missouri Mavericks in 2009 before he was traded to the Oilers. Enlow Achieves Milestone:  As a teenager in the early 70′s, Steve Enlow began working for the Oilers as a stick boy. After a career spanning four decades, Enlow worked his 2,000th game as a hockey equipment manager when the Oilers faced off against Texas last Sunday.  The Tulsa native was with the Oilers when they won a CHL championship in 1984 and returned to the team prior to the 1994 season after the re-birth of the league.  Over the last 18 years, Enlow hasn’t missed a single game.  He has seen players and coaches come and go, he has watched the Oilers organization undergo drastic changes, and he adapted as technology rapidly changed the game of hockey.  Through it all, Enlow has been a constant in the Oilers locker room and behind the bench.  In 2010, Enlow was awarded the N. Thomas Berry Commitment Cup and in 2006 was named the CHL Equipment Manager of the Year.  Enlow has also participated in two CHL All-Star games.  The Oilers would like to take this opportunity to thank Steve for his professionalism, his loyalty and dedication, and his outstanding years of service to the organization. Crack Down On Cramer:  Rookie forward Ryan Cramer was suspended two games by the CHL for what was deemed an “illegal hit to the head” on Brahmas forward Ross Rouleau in the second period of Saturday’s game.  Cramer sat out during Sunday’s game at Texas and will miss Tuesday’s contest against Missouri. Perfection on the PK:  The Oilers enjoyed a perfect week of penalty killing as they stopped all 14 opposing powerplays. Tulsa killed off a pair of penalties in the overtime loss to Fort Wayne on Tuesday, then stymied the Brahmas advantages 14 times over the course of three games.  The Oilers, who rank eighth in the CHL with a penalty kill success rate of 82.5 percent, have allowed 39 powerplay goals in 52 games this season. Upcoming Games:  The Oilers close out the month of February with a Tuesday home game against Missouri before beginning the final month of the regular season on the road at Bloomington on Friday.  Tulsa is back at the BOK Center this Saturday to host Rapid City. Saturday, March 3 vs. Rapid City Rush at 7:35 p.m.   The final month of the regular season begins and every game takes on a higher level of importance for the Oilers as they chase down a playoff spot.  Show the Oilers your support as they take on the Rush, and you’ll be rewarded!  The first 3,000 fans (21 and over) through the BOK Center doors will receive $10 in free match play at River Spirit Casino.  Cheer the Oilers on to victory and put cash in your hand!  Only a handful of home games remain, don’t miss your chance to catch the hard-hitting action when the Oilers halt the Rush!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 28th, 2012 at 11:03 am and is filed under CHL News, News, Oilers News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Week In Review:  Tulsa went 1-2-1 over the last seven days and started off the week with a 2-1 overtime loss at home to Fort Wayne.  Oilers goalie Steve Christie stood tall in net, making 42 saves on 44 Komets shots.  Kaleigh Shrock put home the game-winning goal for the visitors, but Tulsa was able to salvage a valuable point.

Friday night, the Oilers concluded their six-game home stand and began a three-game weekend series against Texas.  In a 2-1 win over the Brahmas, Tulsa’s offense came from the unlikeliest of sources.  Defenseman Tyler Fleck, who hadn’t scored a goal all season, rifled home a shot from the slot to give the Oilers an early lead.  Fleck’s fellow d-man, Gio Flamminio, notched just his second goal of the season when he provided the Oilers with the insurance marker early in the third period.  Tulsa got another sterling performance from Christie who turned aside 29 shots to preserve the victory.

The weekend series shifted to Fort Worth for Saturday and Sunday’s contests.  The Oilers took a 1-0 lead into the third period on Saturday, but the Brahmas stormed back to post a 3-1 win.  Less than 24 hours later, the Oilers, playing with a depleted bench of only 13 skaters, held two leads over the Brahmas but couldn’t sustain their edge.  For the second straight night, Texas scored three unanswered goals and pulled away for a 4-2 win.

Tulsa, which has two games in hand on Rio Grande Valley, remains three points up on the Killer Bees for the final playoff spot in the Berry Conference.

Fleck Joins 700 Club:  Sunday’s tilt against Texas was the 700^th professional game of Tyler Fleck’s outstanding career.  The Tulsa captain has played every one of his games in the CHL and ranks fifth in the league in all-time games played.  Fleck, who has played in all 52 contests this season, has a goal and five assists, and assumes the role of the Oilers unquestioned leader both on and off the ice.  The 33-year old Saskatchewan native turned pro in 1999 and spent eight productive seasons patrolling the blue line for the Oklahoma City Blazers.  Fleck played briefly for the Missouri Mavericks in 2009 before he was traded to the Oilers.

Enlow Achieves Milestone:  As a teenager in the early 70’s, Steve Enlow began working for the Oilers as a stick boy.  After a career spanning four decades, Enlow worked his 2,000^th game as a hockey equipment manager when the Oilers faced off against Texas last Sunday.  The Tulsa native was with the Oilers when they won a CHL championship in 1984 and returned to the team prior to the 1994 season after the re-birth of the league.  Over the last 18 years, Enlow hasn’t missed a single game.  He has seen players and coaches come and go, he has watched the Oilers organization undergo drastic changes, and he adapted as technology rapidly changed the game of hockey.  Through it all, Enlow has been a constant in the Oilers locker room and behind the bench.  In 2010, Enlow was awarded the N. Thomas Berry Commitment Cup and in 2006 was named the CHL Equipment Manager of the Year.  Enlow has also participated in two CHL All-Star games.  The Oilers would like to take this opportunity to thank Steve for his professionalism, his loyalty and dedication, and his outstanding years of service to the organization.

Crack Down On Cramer:  Rookie forward Ryan Cramer was suspended two games by the CHL for what was deemed an “illegal hit to the head” on Brahmas forward Ross Rouleau in the second period of Saturday’s game.  Cramer sat out during Sunday’s game at Texas and will miss Tuesday’s contest against Missouri.

Perfection on the PK:  The Oilers enjoyed a perfect week of penalty killing as they stopped all 14 opposing powerplays.  Tulsa killed off a pair of penalties in the overtime loss to Fort Wayne on Tuesday, then stymied the Brahmas advantages 14 times over the course of three games.  The Oilers, who rank eighth in the CHL with a penalty kill success rate of 82.5 percent, have allowed 39 powerplay goals in 52 games this season.

Upcoming Games:  The Oilers close out the month of February with a Tuesday home game against Missouri before beginning the final month of the regular season on the road at Bloomington on Friday.  Tulsa is back at the BOK Center this Saturday to host Rapid City.

Tuesday, February 28 vs. Missouri Mavericks at 7:05 p.m.

The Mavericks got the best of the Oilers last time they were in Tulsa so the Oilers need you provide a raucous, unfriendly atmosphere for the visitors!  After a hard day’s work, you deserve to kick back with a cold one and the Oilers have you covered.  Beer is $2 all night long at the BOK Center!  Plus, it’s another Papa John’s College Night so it’s more affordable than ever to witness the Oilers maul the Mavericks!

Saturday, March 3 vs. Rapid City Rush at 7:35 p.m.

The final month of the regular season begins and every game takes on a higher level of importance for the Oilers as they chase down a playoff spot.  Show the Oilers your support as they take on the Rush, and you’ll be rewarded!  The first 3,000 fans (21 and over) through the BOK Center doors will receive $10 in free match play at River Spirit Casino.  Cheer the Oilers on to victory and put cash in your hand!  Only a handful of home games remain, don’t miss your chance to catch the hard-hitting action when the Oilers halt the Rush!

This entry was posted on Monday, February 27th, 2012 at 12:51 pm and is filed under CHL News, News, Oilers News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX – A second period that started with so much promise for the Oilers quickly took a sour turn.  A hungry Texas Brahmas squad poured in three unanswered goals and clamped down on Tulsa in the third to secure a 4-2 Central Hockey League victory on Sunday evening at the NYTEX Sports Centre.

Tulsa’s Michel Beausoleil gave the Oilers the early lead with a slapshot from the high slot five minutes into the first period.  It took the Brahmas only 29 seconds to respond as Adam Hogg corralled a rebound in front of the Oilers goal and slid the puck past Steve Christie.

On a powerplay early in the second, Gary Steffes showed off some nifty stickhandling to draw defenders and find a wide open Troy Ofukany whose tap-in put Tulsa back on top.  Again the Brahmas responded.  Chad Woollard hit a streaking Jacque Perrault who roofed a wrister past Christie to tie the contest.  Ten minutes later, Dan Nicholls scored from a similar position and Texas was out front for good.  The home side got the cushion it needed after a costly turnover at the side of the Oilers net led to Woollard’s 22^nd goal of the season.

Mark Guggenberger turned aside all seven Oilers shots in the third period as Texas held on for the rubber match victory.

The Oilers, who dropped their fifth straight road game, celebrated a pair of milestones on Sunday.  Defenseman Tyler Fleck played in his 700^th professional game and Steve Enlow worked his 2,000^th game as a professional hockey equipment manager.  The Oilers return home Tuesday night to face the Missouri Mavericks at 7:05 p.m.

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 26th, 2012 at 9:10 pm and is filed under CHL News, News, Oilers News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.