Oilers Extend Eight Qualifying Offers
July 1, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release
TULSA, OK - The Tulsa Oilers today issued eight players qualifying offers for the 2015-16 season. Qualifying offers were extended to forwards Drew Fisher, Justin Mansfield, Tommy Mele, and Jeff Jubinville, defensemen Ricards Birzinsh, Scott Macaulay, and Eric Tallent, and goaltender Andy Iles.
Each ECHL team was entitled to reserve the rights to a maximum of eight qualified players. Of the eight qualified players, no more than four could be veterans (260 regular season professional hockey games played as of the start of the upcoming 2015-16 season). None of the players who received qualifying offers from the Oilers fall into the veteran category. Players on open qualifying offers cannot be traded. Players who already signed a contract by June 30 did not need to receive a qualifying offer
The qualifying offer will remain open for acceptance until August 1 at which time the qualifying offer becomes null and void and the team may sign the qualified player to any salary or may elect to take no further action. Teams that extend a valid qualifying offer to a non-veteran player shall retain the rights to that qualified player for one playing season.
Forwards
Drew Fisher: Enjoyed his most productive season as a pro in 2014-15, led the Oilers in assists (59), points (77), and multi-point games, finished tied for third in the ECHL scoring race, recorded a playoff hat-trick.
Justin Mansfield: Joined the Oilers late in the season as an amateur out of Merrimack College, played defense as well as forward.
Tommy Mele: Scored 21 goals and chipped in 17 assists last season, led the Oilers with 200 penalty minutes, appeared in three games with Oklahoma City Barons (AHL).
Jeff Jubinville: Led all Tulsa rookies in goals (30) and assists (33), finished third in points among all ECHL rookies, second on the squad with a +20 rating, only Oilers' player to record a four-goal game in 2014-15 season.
Defensemen
Ricards Birzinsh: Latvia native appeared in 47 games last season, his first full season of North American hockey, posted one goal and 13 assists.
Scott Macaulay: Appeared in all 72 games during second season in Tulsa, led the team in power play points (6 goals, 17 assists), named to the ECHL All-Star Team.
Eric Tallent: Earned a +18 rating in 33 games played, one goal and 11 assists in second season in Tulsa.
Goalies
Andy Iles: Split time last season between Florida Everblades, Alaska Aces, and Tulsa, acquired by the Oilers late in the season, did not appear in a regular season or playoff game.
The Oilers' search for a new Head Coach is currently underway as Bruce Ramsay ended his six-year tenure behind the Tulsa bench earlier this week to accept an assistant coaching position with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL.
The 2015-16 season, Tulsa's second in the ECHL, begins Friday, October 16 at 7:05 p.m. against the Wichita Thunder. For more information on season or group tickets, please call 918-632-7825 or visit www.tulsaoilers.com.
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