A Tulsa woman gets in on the action at a Tulsa Oilers game.

Tulsa Oilers team captain Tyler Butler shows Jean Shipley, 84, where to drop the puck between his teammate Sean Erickson (front left) and Luke Fritshaw of the Rapid City Rush in a ceremonial faceoff before the teams’ game Friday at the BOK Center. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World

By DEON J. HAMPTON World Staff Writer

Published: 3/6/2010  2:20 AM

Last Modified: 3/6/2010  8:05 AM

At age 84, Jean Shipley lives life to the fullest.

She delighted in her latest adventure Friday night, when Tulsa Oilers team captain Tyler Butler pushed her wheelchair to center ice at the BOK Center so she could drop the ceremonial first puck before a Central Hockey League game between the Tulsa Oilers and the Rapid City Rush.

As she made her way around the rink, Shipley, who has survived a stroke and breast cancer, received an ovation from fans.

“It was great; we have to do it again,” said Shipley, who was taking in her first hockey game and making her first trip to the BOK Center. She added, “The captain was a neat-looking fella.”

Dream Chasers, a program of Gold Medallion Senior Housing and Health Care, and the Oilers set up Shipley’s big night.

Accompanied by her son and church members, Shipley said she wanted to skate as a child but didn’t have enough balance and wasn’t good at it. She said Friday’s ceremony ranks high among her life experiences.

Sara Gaither, director of operations for Gold Medallion, said the company, which operates independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing care facilities, tries every quarter to make one of its resident’s dreams possible.

Gaither said the company once helped a resident who loved horses but never owned one.

After apples and carrots had been put in the woman’s window while she was asleep, cowboys on horseback approached, and the horses ate the goodies as she watched.

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20100306_11_A13_TulsaO743508&archive=yes

Home Finale:    The Oilers capped off a five game homestand and their regular season winning two of their final three games. The Oilers got six different goal scorers in a 6-3 win over Mississippi; sustained their second shutout in a 3-0 loss to Rapid City; then wound up the home schedule with a rousing 3-2 shootout win over Missouri.

Rammer Back: Coach Bruce Ramsay has returned to Tulsa after missing the last three games, as he was visiting his ill mother in Canada. Her health has improved and Ramsay is expected to be with the Oilers for the three road games this week. 

Playoff Stuff:    The Oilers are in a three way fight for two playoff spots left in the Northern Conference. The top five teams in each conference qualify for the Ray Miron President Cup playoffs. Rapid City, Colorado and Bossier-Shreveport have all qualified for postseason play. Wichita has been eliminated from playoff consideration. That leaves Mississippi, Missouri, and the Oilers battling for the final two spots. Mississippi has 65 points with one road game and four home games left; Missouri has 63 points with three road games and two home games left; the Oilers have 60 points with six road games left.

Short Stuff:    The Oilers scored shorthanded goals in four straight games before the loss to Rapid City, then had one against Missouri, giving them shorthanded goals in five of their last six games. The Oilers are tied with Texas for the CHL lead in shorthanded goals with 19.

Tickets Here:    Tickets for all Oilers playoff games, once the dates are determined, are available at the BOK Center box office or by calling 1-866-7BOK CTR (726-5287). Tickets can also be purchased on line at www.tulsaoilers.com and at area Reasor’s Grocery Stores.

Along with Magers and coach Bruce Ramsay, fans in attendance will have the chance to ask questions and win Oilers prizes.  The Hockey Happy Hour can be heard via the internet at www.tulsaoilers.com and www.edgetulsa.com/oilers.

Jake Riddle opened the scoring with the Oilers 19th shorthanded goal of the season, tying Texas for the league high. Jeff MacDermid tied it with just over a minute left in the first period.

In the second period, it was the Oilers turn to score late. Luke Stauffacher was able to punch in a rolling puck and that held until Mike Burgoyne scored midway through the third. Standish’s shootout attempt that ended the game set off a raucous celebration as the Oilers wrapped up their home schedule.

Tulsa plays its final six games on the road starting at Amarillo on Wednesday at 11:05 a.m.

Scott Wray and Derek LeBlanc had first period goals for Rapid City and the Rush made those hold up while Danny Battochio stopped all 34 shots he faced recording his and Rapid City’s second shutout of the season. Wray scored an empty net goal, clearing the puck the length of the ice with four seconds left.

The Oilers can make up ground in the playoff race hosting Missouri Saturday night at 7:35. Meanwhile Mississippi will be playing its second straight game at Allen, which defeated Mississippi 5-2 Friday night.

Adam Bartholomay, Dan Riedel and Troy Riddle (shorthanded) staked the Oilers to a 3-0 lead in the first 10 minutes of the game. Glenn Detulleo got Mississippi on the board with just 33 seconds left in the period.

Mississippi made things interesting as Stephen Margeson cut the lead to 3-2. But goals by Tyler Butler (power play) and Jeff Gumaer only 56 seconds apart midway through the second period regained the Oilers’ three goal cushion.

Marty Standish got the Oilers second shorthanded goal of the night before Ryan Held rounded out the scoring for Mississippi.

The Oilers host the Rapid City Rush Friday at 7:35 p.m. at the BOK Center.

Left wing David Alexandre Beauregard and goaltender Marco Emond will be on hand for the talk show which takes place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.  Fans can ask questions and win prizes during the show.