CHL Tulsa Oilers

Case For The Defense

Published on September 29, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release


When the rugged grind of the 2009-10 Central Hockey League regular season begins, it may come as a relief to the members of the Tulsa Oilers defense. Some of the toughest competition they may face all year could possibly be in the Oilers training camp.

Coach Bruce Ramsay expects 11-12 defensemen in camp, and says all of them have the potential to make the team. He expects the Oilers to be significantly improved from the 08-09 squad that finished second to last in goals against per game (4.22) and last in shots on goal against per game (38.7).

"Defense is a team effort," Ramsay said. "Everyone blames the defense if you give up a lot of shots or a lot of goals but it has to be everyone on the team committed to doing their job defensively."

Ramsay has compiled quite a diverse group of blueliners for his first training camp as the Oilers head coach. But they have one thing in common. "They're all tough."

Exhibit A of the toughness is Rob Chappell, who was fifth in the CHL with 231 penalty minutes last season while playing for the Rocky Mountain Rage. The 6-foot, 210 pounder proved a capable policeman last year registering 25 majors, tying for third most in the league.

His teammate the past two years, Tyler Butler is the Oilers' player assistant coach. He's looking to rebound from a shoulder injury that cut his season short, and return to the form that had him playing in the 2008 CHL all-star game.

If Chappell is Exhibit A, call Derek Eastman and Jeff White, exhibits B and C. Both have had extensive careers in Europe, and Ramsay says they are both potential all-stars. He says Eastman "hits everything and everyone in sight," and he's also had 35 or more points in a season twice in the ECHL.

There will be a few familiar faces returning to Tulsa. Matt Smyth, Peter Kennedy and R.J. Linder all played for the Oilers last season. Smyth came to Tulsa in a mid season trade with Corpus Christi. In a combined 62 games he had 17 points and 141 penalty minutes. Kennedy saw his season cut short with a broken thumb, and Linder had a goal and three assists in just 11 games for the Oilers, and Ramsay said he had a good showing at the Chicago Wolves American Hockey League training camp.

Two players, Tyler Fuller, 6-foot, 200 pounds, and Tom Maldonado (no relation to former major league baseball player Candy Maldonado) 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, will come to the Oilers camp having played half of last season with New Mexico. They proved to be a steady pair with Maldonado a +10 in 34 games and Fuller +5 in 27 games.

While there's plenty of professional experience coming to training camp, Ramsay is also eager to see two college players on the ice as well. Jack Wolgemuth was two time all-America for Wisconsin-Stout while getting 16 goals, 50 assists for 66 points in his 111 collegiate career games. Jeff Zatorski will report to training camp after a stellar college career at Potsdam.

Ramsay expects a blueline contingent with the perfect mix of toughness and speed. "You've got to have the right combination of toughness and skating. The way hockey is played today, you have to be mobile," Ramsay said.

The Oilers begin training camp on Monday October 5th. They will have an intra squad game on Tuesday October 6th at the Oilers Ice Center (64th and Mingo) at 7 p.m. That game will be free to season ticket holders and $10 for non season ticket holders.

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Central Hockey League Stories from September 29, 2009


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