ECHL Tulsa Oilers

Hjelle Earns First Win as Oilers Cruise Past Beast on Teddy Bear Toss Night

Published on December 12, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release


TULSA, OK - Rookie goaltender Brady Hjelle fought off 33 of the 34 shots he faced on Friday night to help the Tulsa Oilers earn a 4-1 victory over the Brampton Beast in front of 6,340 at the BOK Center. The win in the first meeting of the season against Brampton pushed the Oilers within two points of first place in the Central Division and improved their home ice record to 9-4-2.

The Beast, playing in the second game of a nine-game road trip, got to Hjelle early when Stephon Thorne crashed the net at 2:16 of the opening period and jammed the puck across the goal line. Brampton's 1-0 lead was wiped away at the 17:28 mark of the first thanks to a burst of speed and close-range finish by Tulsa winger Tommy Mele. The New York native scooted past Beast defenseman Antoine Corbin on the left wing and shoveled the puck through the legs of Trevor Cann for his seventh goal of the season. Mele was assisted by Luke Judson who was inserted back into the Oilers' lineup after missing 13 games due to a concussion. Teddy bears and an assortment of stuffed animals littered the BOK Center ice for several minutes following Mele's goal and all the stuffed animals will be donated to the Salvation Army.

In the second period, the Oilers went in front for good off a power play strike from Drew Fisher. After a slap shot from Dave Pszenyczny bounced around in front of the Brampton crease, Fisher found the loose puck and batted it past Carr to give Tulsa a 2-1 advantage. The Oilers finished 1-for-2 on the power play and have recorded four power play goals in the last two games. A snap shot from the slot off the stick of Jeff Jubinville put the Oilers up 3-1 at 13:20 of the middle frame and Tulsa carried the two-goal cushion into the second intermission.

Kyle O'Kane, who assisted on Jubinville's tally in the second period, netted his ninth goal of the season at 7:43 of the third and extended his point streak to four games. Hjelle turned aside 13 shots over the final 20 minutes to help seal the win for Tulsa.

For the first time this season, the Oilers were without veteran center Jon Booras who suffered an upper body injury in Wednesday's win over Wichita but Adam Pleskach, Judson, Fisher, and O'Kane each chipped in two points to fill the offensive void.

Tulsa is 4-0-0 all-time on home ice against Brampton and will try to win a third straight game on Saturday night at 7:35 p.m. when the Quad City Mallards fly into town.

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