TULSA, OK- It’s a season of a new beginning for the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League. For only the third time in their 80 year history, the Oilers will begin play in a new building, the BOK Center. Coach Dan Hodge, who begins his first full season behind the bench, hopes that the team can christen the new arena with a brand new championship banner as well. The new arena has brought a new interest in the team from the public and the Oilers hope that plays out as well for a successful 2008-2009 campaign. Returning this season will be Tulsa’s points leader Jeff Christian, along with goalies Kevin St. Pierre and Guy St. Vincent. Joining them from the 07-08 squad are Brendan Hodge, Steve Jensen and Kai Magnusson. New faces include two key trades in the off season…Jason Lawmaster, formerly of the Mississippi Riverkings and Kelly Sickavish, a former teammate of Christian’s from the idle Youngstown Steelhounds. A familiar face to Oilers fans is forward Michel Beausoliel, who last graced the ice in Tulsa as a member of the Oklahoma City Blazers. One of Coach Hodge’s priorities this off season was to sign players who would bolster a somewhat soft defense in previous years. Along with Sickavish and Lawmaster he signed Kevin Hansen, a 6’1” 210 defenseman from Hamburg, New York and Ben Chiasson, a 6’4” 195 blue liner from Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Oilers posted a 1-2 preseason record, winning a game against the Wichita Thunder and dropping two games to the rival Oklahoma City Blazers. They begin the 08-09 campaign in Oklahoma City on October 17, then after a game in Corpus Christi they return home for the first hockey game in the BOK center against the Blazers on October 25th. Contact the author at rich.lohman@prohockeynews.com.
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