Thunder Well-Represented In Oilers Training Camp

September 5, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, the proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey Leaguefs Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey Leaguefs Springfield Falcons, announced 14 players with Thunder-playing experience are scheduled to report to NHL training camp with the Oilers on Friday, September 19 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta.

Below is the alphabetical list of players who have skated in a Thunder uniform, scheduled to participate in Oilers training camp:

œ Sebastien Bisaillon (D)

œ Devan Dubnyk (G)

œ Glenn Fisher (G)

œ Stephane Goulet (LW)

œ Adam Huxley (LW)

œ Ryan MacMurchy (RW)

œ Ryan OfMarra (C)

œ Geoff Paukovich (C)

œ Les Reaney (C)

œ Liam Reddox (LW)

œ David Rohlfs (RW)

œ Tim Sestito (LW)

œ Tyler Spurgeon (C)

œ Bryan Young (D)

Among the Stockton notables are three players (Bisaillon, Reddox, Young) who have appeared in the National Hockey League with the Oilers, while three additional players (Dubnyk, OfMarra, MacMurchy) have represented the Thunder, or named to the National Conference team in the ECHL All-Star Game.

gItfs exciting to see Thunder players receive the opportunity to advance their careers with the Oilers organization,h said Chris Cichocki, Thunder head coach. gLiam Reddox and his work ethic is a great example for all Stockton alumni; he played a full season here and then followed it up with a great second year as a pro which earned him a call-up to Edmonton. I anticipate these players will make the Stockton Thunder organization very proud as they will chase their dream of becoming an Edmonton Oiler.h

Bisaillon, 21, appeared in seven games last season as a rookie with the Thunder, scoring six points (4g-2a) and made his NHL debut with the Oilers on Mar. 19, 2007 against the Vancouver Canucks. The 6-foot, 185-pound defenseman added one assist in six Kelly Cup Playoff games last year and additionally skated in 21 games with Springfield, amassing 10 points (3g-7a) and 10 penalty minutes.

Reddox, 22, was a fourth round (112th overall) selection of the Oilers in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and skated in 70 games with the Thunder in 2006-07, notching 26 points (8g-18a) and 49 penalty minutes while adding three points (2g-1a) in six Kelly Cup Playoff games. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound forward went onto make his NHL debut with the Oilers on Dec. 7, 2007 against the St. Louis Blues. Reddoxfs 16 goals ranked third on the Falcons last season, amassing 44 points (16g-28a) in 65 AHL games.

Young, 22, completed his ascension from the ECHL to the NHL in 2006-07, skating in 17 games with the Thunder while adding four assists before making his NHL debut with the Oilers on Mar. 9, 2007 against the Anaheim Ducks. Young has appeared in 17 career games with the Oilers, posting 10 penalty minutes and skated in 74 games last year for Springfield, registering seven assists and 62 penalty minutes.

Dubnyk, 22, represented the Thunder in the 2007 ECHL All-Star Game and set Thunder single-season records for wins (24), minutes played (2,529), lowest goals-against-average (2.56) and save percentage (.921) in 2006-07. The 6-foot-5, 182-pound goaltender was selected in the first round (14th overall) by the Oilers in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and appeared in 33 games last year for Springfield, tallying a .904 save percentage, 3.12 goals-against-average and a 9-17-0 record.

OfMarra, 21, scored 20 points (11g-9a) in 24 games with the Thunder as a rookie last season, adding nine points (2g-7a) in just six Kelly Cup Playoff games. The 6-foot-1, 193-pound center was selected in the first round (15th overall) by the New York Islanders in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and acquired by the Oilers, along with right wing Robert Nilsson and a first round pick in the NHL Entry Draft, from the New York in exchange for left wing Ryan Smyth on Feb. 27, 2007. Last season, OfMarra additionally scored nine points (2g-7a) in 31 games for Springfield, amassing 31 penalty minutes.

MacMurchy, 25, earns a spot in Oilers camp after playing last season under an ECHL contract with the Thunder, where he was a point-per-game player with 45 points (23g-22g) in 45 games, additionally posting 67 penalty minutes and a team-leading 23 goals. The 6-foot-2, 207-pound forward represented the host Thunder in the ECHL All-Star Game last season, scoring an assist. MacMurchy split his 2006-07 rookie campaign with Alaska of the ECHL and Peoria of the AHL, scoring 15 points (8g-7a) in 42 total games while adding 72 penalty minutes.

The Oilersf 29th NHL training camp opens on Friday, September 19th with players undergoing medicals and fitness testing at Rexall Place. Following medicals and fitness testing, the players take to the ice at Rexall Place for the first time on Saturday, September 20th. Thirty-five players (3 goaltenders, 11 defensemen and 21 forwards) will be joined by additions from the Oilersf Rookie Camp, which runs from September 12-18.

Following the first two days of practice, the Oilers will open their 2008 NHL pre-season with four games in four nights. The Oilers begin the pre-season at home as they host the Vancouver Canucks at Rexall Place on Monday, Sept. 22 in the first game of a home-and-home series. After visiting General Motors Place on Tuesday, Sept. 23 to conclude the series with Vancouver, the Oilers will return home to host the Florida Panthers on Wednesday-Thursday, September 24-25.

Complete details on Oilers training camp and a roster can be found at www.edmontonoilers.com.



ECHL Stories from September 5, 2008


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