Butler Named Player Assistant; Nemesis Standish Now An Oiler
September 2, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release
Tulsa Oilers head coach Bruce Ramsay has made two key acquisitions for his first season behind the bench in the Central Hockey League. Ramsay announced veteran defenseman Tyler Butler will be the Oilers' player assistant coach for the 2009-10 season, and that the Oilers have signed veteran right winger and former Oklahoma City Blazer Marty Standish for the upcoming season.
Ramsay has learned to lean on Butler in a very short time since being named the Oilers coach in May.
"I did a lot of due diligence and talked to a lot people he has played for in the past. His former coach (Tracy Egeland who coached Butler with the Rocky Mountain Rage the past two seasons) and they said Tyler would be a perfect fit in this role and it has been," Ramsay said. "He's had an outstanding career as an offensive defenseman and is going to be a key player for us on the power play, which we need to improve."
Butler, who signed earlier this summer with the Oilers after it was announce Rocky Mountain suspended operations has already made an impact in recruiting players for the Oilers training camp.
"This has been a great job in the off season to help Bruce. I wanted this responsibility but once the season starts, I'll be one of the guys," Butler said. "This franchise is pretty storied. As much as they love the Oilers, they love a winning bunch of Oilers, or at least a bunch of Oilers that tries hard."
In signing Standish, the Oilers bring back to the CHL a longtime nemesis, who ranked 25th on the all-time CHL goal scoring list after the 2007-08 season. He played last year in the International Hockey League.
In spite of his diminutive stature (5-foot-7, 165 pounds) Standish has eclipsed the 140 penalty minute mark eight times in his career, and twice has had more than 200 penalty minutes in a season. "I only know one way to play, and that's hard," Standish said. "I like to play in your face style and feisty."
Standish played eight seasons for the Oklahoma City Blazers, who this summer suspended operations, making the Oilers the only professional hockey team in the state. In his eight years with Oklahoma City he scored 188 goals which had him 25th on the all time CHL goal scoring list.
Ramsay is also familiar with Standish's scoring ability, having coached against him last season. Standish has had five 20-goal seasons, has hit the 30-goal plateau three times and had a career high 44 goals with Oklahoma City and the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey league in 2000-01.
"He's an energy type player who can put points on the board, and we're definitely counting on him for that," Ramsay said. "We want to have an entertaining hockey team. Marty can be one of those guys that can stir things up."
The Oilers start the CHL regular season on Friday October 16th at Mississippi. The home opener for the Oilers in their 18th CHL season will be Saturday October 24th at 7:35 against the Wichita Thunder. Season tickets for the Oilers 2009-10 season in the BOK Center are available by calling the Oilers at (918) 632-PUCK (7825).
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Central Hockey League Stories from September 2, 2009
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