CHL Tulsa Oilers

Oilers Weekly

March 8, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release


The Tulsa Oilers had a busy week last week, with four games in five nights. The Oilers went 0-2-2 for the week, including two losses in sudden death. Tulsa now stands at 22-25-13, 57 points, 5th place in the CHL's Northwest Division. Tulsa trails fourth-place Oklahoma City by 2 points.

Tulsa opened up the week on the road Tuesday in New Mexico. Wes Scanzano gave Tulsa the 1-0 lead in the second period, but the Oilers could not hold it. Mike Oliveira scored to tie it in the third period, and Vladimir Hartinger netted the game-winner in the shootout as the Scorpions defeated Tulsa 2-1. Tim Kelleher stopped 40 shots in a losing cause for the Oilers.

The next night, the Oilers made their last trip to Colorado to take on the Eagles. Colorado's penalty kill plagued the Oilers once again, scoring two short-handed goals to take the game 2-1 before a sellout crowd of 5,211 at the Budweiser Events Center. The Eagles have scored five short-handed goals in the last two games against the Oilers, and Tulsa's power-play was unable to get it going and was 0-for-4 for the game. Branislav Kvetan scored the only goal of the game for the Oilers.

Friday night, Tulsa returned home to host the Austin Ice Bats. The Ice Bats jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on goals by Gerald Tallaire and Arturs Kupaks, but the Oilers clawed their way back into it, scoring the next four goals. However, Austin came back to tie the game on the power-play late in the third, and force overtime. In the extra frame, Gerald Tallaire would strike again, giving Austin the 5-4 win. Dan Gravelle, Wes Scanzano, and Doug Pirnak each tallied a goal and an assist in the loss, while Jan Vrtik scored his first professional goal and added an assist as well.

Trying to regroup, the Oilers welcomed the Laredo Bucks to town for the only time of the season on Saturday night. Laredo, sporting the best record in the CHL, quickly jumped out to a four-goal first period, and held on late, defeating the Oilers 6-4. Patrik Nilson and Mike Amodeo each scored a goal and an assist for the Bucks, who got goals from six different players. Dan Gravelle lit the lamp twice for Tulsa, while Wes Scanzano recorded three assists and Chris Page added a goal and a helper in defeat. Tim Kelleher made 42 saves in net.

The Oilers awarded the 2003-2004 team awards at the game Saturday as well, with the following garnering the accolades: Dan Gravelle won the Community Service Award; Tim Kelleher won Rookie of the Year; Regan Harper won Defensive Player of the Year; Jason Bermingham won Team MVP; and captain Todd Marcellus took home the honors as Offensive Player of the Year and Fan Favorite.

TEAM LEADERS:

Goals: Dan Gravelle 33
Assists: Todd Marcellus 40
Points: Jason Bermingham 66
Plus/Minus: Regan Harper +16
PIM: Shawn Scanzano 136
PPG: Jason Bermingham 13
SHG: Marcellus/Gravelle 2
GWG: Jason Bermingham 6
Shots: Jason Bermingham 260
SH Pct: Doug Pirnak 17.4
Shootout G: Todd Marcellus 5
Wins: Rod Branch 16
GAA: Tim Kelleher 2.95
Save Pct: Rod Branch .916
Saves: Rod Branch 1,293
Minutes: Rod Branch 2319:25

The Oilers wrap up the 2003-2004 season this week, hosting the Wichita Thunder and Oklahoma City Blazers at home on Tuesday and Friday, then completing the schedule on the road in Fort Worth Saturday and Memphis on Sunday.

Individual game tickets can be purchased at the Oilers ticket office, at Carson Attractions, in the Tulsa Convention Center, or at the Drug Mart locations in Tulsa, Owasso, and Broken Arrow.

Phone orders for game tickets can be made by calling 918-584-2000 or 918-632-7825.

Check out the Tulsa Oilers Statistics



Central Hockey League Stories from March 8, 2004


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