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CHL Tulsa Oilers

Tulsa Oilers Weekly News and Notes

December 16, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release


Last Week's Games:

Thu. Dec. 12 @ Brampton (6-4 W)

Fri. Dec. 13 @ Brampton (4-0 L)

Sun. Dec. 15 @ Brampton (4-2 L)

Upcoming Games:

Fri. Dec. 20 vs. Quad City Mallards at 7:35 p.m.

Sat. Dec. 21 vs. Missouri Mavericks at 7:35 p.m. - Annual Teddy Bear Toss and Dora The Explorer

- Bring a teddy bear or stuffed animal to the game and throw it onto the ice after the Oilers score their first goal of the game...bears will be collected and donated to needy children around the Tulsa area

- Dora The Explorer will be attending the game so don't miss out on your chance to bring your kids to meet their favorite TV character.

Week In Review: Tulsa went 1-2-0 on its one and only Canadian road trip of the season, dropping two of its three games against the Brampton Beast. The Oilers started off the series by earning their fourth straight win with a 6-4 triumph over the Beast on Thursday night at the Powerade Centre. Ben Gordon recorded a natural hat-trick in the first period while Ryan Menei and Kyle Bochek each chipped in four points. On Friday, the Oilers were shutout for the first time this season in a 4-0 setback. Brampton goalie Grant Rollheiser turned away 31 shots and the Oilers spent more than half of the third period in the penalty box making it difficult to overcome the deficit. The series concluded Sunday with the Beast surging past the Oilers for four unanswered goals and a 4-2 victory in the rubber match.

Where They Stand: The heavy schedule has continued for the Oilers who top the CHL with 27 games played. Tulsa's record of 14-11-2 is good for third place in the CHL standings and the Oilers lead the league in goals for (96), goals against (96), and penalty minutes (591).

Gordon Steals The Show: In Tulsa's 6-4 win over the Beast on Thursday night, Oilers forward Ben Gordon scored a natural hat-trick in the first period with three goals on three shots in the span of just over three minutes. Gordon, the Oilers second leading scorer in 2012-13, re-directed a pass from Ryan Menei for his first goal of the night and followed with a wrist-shot bullet from the circle for his second tally of the contest. He finished off the hat-trick by dragging the puck across the Brampton crease and roofing a backhand into the gaping net. The 28-year old winger recorded his first multi-goal game as an Oiler and finished the night with five points after chipping in a pair of assists. Gordon's three-goal night is the second Oilers hat-trick of the season. Adam Pleskach found the net four times on November 23 in Tulsa's 10-8 win at Allen.

Terrific Trio: Ben Gordon wasn't the only Oilers forward to post big offensive numbers on Thursday night. Gordon's line mates, Kyle Bochek and Ryan Menei, each registered four points of their own. Menei dished out an assist on each of Tulsa's first four goals and Bochek scored a goal and contributed three assists to record his eighth multi-point game of the season. The second line trio combined for 13 of the Oilers 17 points on the evening.

Drive For Five Comes Up Short: Riding a four-game win streak entering Friday's game, the Oilers bid for a fifth straight victory was denied by the Beast. The Oilers have not won five games in a row since November of 2009, Bruce Ramsay's first season behind the Tulsa bench.

Toughness and Talent: Oilers center Kyle Bochek was assessed 27 penalty minutes on Friday night and now leads the entire CHL with 98 penalty minutes this season. The fifth-year pro is well on his way to besting his career-high of 139 penalty minutes which he recorded during the 2010-11 season as a member of the Dayton Gems. Bochek, anything but one-dimensional, has complemented his gritty play this se ason by posting six goals and 19 assists in 26 games. The 25-year leads the Oilers with a +13 rating.

Welcome 'Zinger: Rookie forward Matt Kirzinger made his debut with the Oilers in Sunday's contest at Brampton. The Leroy, Saskatchewan product started the season with the Greenville Road Warriors (ECHL) and signed with Wichita before being picked up by the Oilers. Prior to turning pro, Kirzinger spent four years at Ferris State University in Michigan where he helped lead the Bulldogs to the number one ranking and a spot in the NCAA Championship game. In his senior season, Kirzinger put up 34 points in 42 games and was signed to an amateur tryout contract by the St. John's IceCaps of the AHL.

Dropping Dimes: Ryan Menei missed a month of the season due to injury but the right-winger is still tied for third on the team with 13 assists. The Winnipeg native, who scored 82 points in 66 games l ast season, has helped out on 13 of the Oilers last 24 goals.

Beausoleil Climbing: Michel Beausoleil suited up for his 297th game as an Oiler on Friday and moved past Sylvain Naud into sole possession of fourth place on Tulsa's all-time games played list. In his sixth season with the Oilers, Beausol eil has put up 695 points in 757 professional games.

Power Play Drought: The Oilers have only managed to score four power play goals in their last 35 opportunities with the man-advantage. Tulsa's power play has dropped to seventh in the CHL with a 16.5-percent success rate.

Player Notes: Todd Robinson is second in the CHL scoring race with 36 points (9 goals, 27 assists)...Adam Pleskach leads all CHL rookies with 16 goals...Scott Macaulay ranks seventh in points (13) among all CHL defenseman...Drew Fisher will play in his 100th professional game on Friday when the Oilers host Quad City...With a goal and an assist on Sunday, Ben Gordon now has 100 points in 76 games with the Oilers.

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