Tulsa Oilers Weekly News and Notes
Published on March 10, 2014 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release
Last Week's Games:
Friday, March 7 vs. Rapid City (5-2 L)
Saturday, March 8 vs. Rapid City (5-0 L)
Upcoming Games:
Friday, March 14 at Wichita Thunder
Saturday, March 15 at Wichita Thunder
Sunday, March 16 vs. Wichita Thunder
- Post-game skate with the players, bring your own skates or rent a pair for $3
- Papa John's Family Packs available for as low as $49 (4 tickets to the game, coupon for large, one-topping Papa John's pizza)
In Search of a Star: On Friday, March 21, the Oilers will team up with Kirby Kasting Agency in search of Oklahoma's next big star! Aspiring actors and singers who buy a ticket to the game against Wichita will have an opportunity to audition for King Kirby, an acclaimed casting director and talent scout who has worked with HBO, Disney, and All My Children. The casting call begins at 6:30 p.m. inside the BOK Center one hour before puck drop between the Oilers and the Thunder. Actors need to prepare a one-minute monologue and cold read while singers should be ready to sing a one-minute ballad. During the first intermission, fans will have the opportunity to meet Hollywood actor, Drew James. The Tulsa native has starred in feature roles in The Young& The Restless, CSI, True Blood, and Bones. James will be signing photos in a meet and greet with Oilers fans in the Grand Lobby of the BOK Center. Don't miss this opportunity to be discovered as Oklahoma's next star and launch an exciting career in the entertainment industry! If you think you have what it takes to break into the business as an actor or recording artist, click the link below to purchase tickets to the game on March 21 and get more details!
Click here if you are Oklahoma's next star!
Week In Review: After a five-game win streak the Oilers crashed back to reality last weekend with a pair of losses on home ice to the Rapid City Rush. On Friday night at the BOK Center, the Rush exploded for three goals in the second period and quickly swelled their lead to 4-0 early in third on a shorthanded breakaway goal by Scott Brannon. Tulsa responded with power play tallies from Ryan Menei and Drew Fisher but the Oilers would get no closer and ended the night on the wrong side of a 5-2 decision. Rapid City picked up where it left off on Saturday night by jumping on the Oilers early and cruising to a 5-0 victory to complete the weekend sweep. The Oilers were shutout for the third time this season and managed only 22 shots on net.
Cold Snap: The Oilers have dropped back-to-back games for the first time since late January and sit in seventh place in the CHL standings with nine games remaining in the regular season. Friday's loss marked the first time Tulsa allowed five goals to an opponent since a 5-3 defeat in Missouri on January 25 and Saturday's five-goal loss was Tulsa's most lopsided defeat since falling 8-2 to Wichita on December 27.
Serving Time: In Saturday's debacle against Rapid City, the Oilers were assessed a season-high 61 penalty minutes. Tulsa racked up 49 of the 61 minutes in the third period thanks to seven minor penalties, one fighting major, and three ten-minute misconducts to Michel Beausoleil, Ryan Barlock, and Kyle Bochek. It marked just the second time this season that three Oilers players ended a game with double-digit penalty minutes. Craig Cescon, Jake Obermeyer, and Beausoleil were each given ten-minute misconducts on December 8 in a 4-3 win over Arizona. Tulsa ranks fourth in the CHL in total penalty minutes.
Killing Time: The lone bright spot of the Oilers 5-0 loss on Saturday was the success of the penalty kill. Tulsa set a new season-high for successful kills by eliminating all 11 Rapid City power plays including three five-on-three Rush advantages in the third period. The Oilers were shorthanded for a total of 8:29 in the final frame.
The Calm Before The Thunder: The StoneWolf Casino Cup Series between Tulsa and Wichita will come to a dramatic conclusion in the coming weeks as the rivals face off five times in the span of nine days beginning this Friday, March 14 at INTRUST Bank Arena. The Oilers are 6-2-1 against the Thunder this season including a perfect 4-0-0 mark in Wichita. With just two victories in the next five meetings, the Oilers can clinch the season series and the coveted StoneWolf Casino Cup. Three contests remain in Wichita (March 14, 15, 22) and two games are scheduled in Tulsa (March 16, 21). The seventh place Oilers have a nine-point lead in the standings on ninth-place Wichita.
Streaks Snapped: Ben Gordon's eight-game point streak came to a halt on Saturday. The reigning CHL Player of the Month recorded 10 goals and 11 assists during his eight-game run and helped the Oilers to a 6-2-0 record in that span. Gordon ranks second in the CHL with 35 goals and third in the league scoring race with 79 points. Ryan Menei's three-game goal streak also came to an end on Saturday. The Oilers winger had two power-play tallies, one even-strength goal, and a successful penalty shot during his recent surge.
Scoring Balance: Although Tulsa is no longer the highest scoring team in the CHL after being overtaken by Missouri, the Oilers still boast more players in the top 20 of the league scoring race than any other club. Six players - Ben Gordon, Todd Robinson, Adam Pleskach, Michel Beausoleil, Ryan Menei, and Kyle Bochek - rank among the CHL's top 20 scorers.
Oil Drops: Forward Matt Ambroz played in his 100th professional game last Friday...Despite the last two losses to Rapid City, the Oilers still won the season series over the Rush with a 3-2-0 record...With Scott Macaulay and Jake Obermeyer on the IR, the Oilers played two of the last three games with only five defensemen in the lineup...
Central Hockey League Stories from March 10, 2014
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- Rapid City Rush Sweep Oakley Weekly Awards - CHL
- Tulsa Oilers Weekly News and Notes - Tulsa Oilers
- Thunder Weekly - Wichita Thunder
- Rush Sweep Thunder in Regular Season - Rapid City Rush
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