TULSA, Okla. – The Tulsa Oilers, in a move to field a more competitive team in the the 2010-11 Central Hockey League season, announced that the team has reached an agreement to become the AA affiliate of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche.
“It is a great opportunity for our organization and the for city of Tulsa to watch some great players the following season,” Oilers head coach Bruce Ramsay said. According to Ramsay, the move will create a primary affiliation with the Lake Erie Monsters. The Monsters call Cleveland, Ohio home and have served as the Avs’ American Hockey League affiliate since 2007. “We are excited to begin this new affiliation with the Tulsa Oilers,” David Oliver, the Avalanche’s director of player development and general manager of the Monsters said. “Their leadership group and staff have the necessary resources to support the development of our prospects.” Oilers general manager Taylor Hall said that while his job may change some to take on more of a player development roll, the move will be a positive one for the franchise.
“It should be very exciting to get some of the prospects that we’ve never been able to get here in Tulsa,” he said. “Young players that we hope one day will be playing on TV in the National Hockey League.” Ramsay said the affiliation was spawned from an informal agreement the Oilers had with Lake Erie last season. After being informed that the Monsters had a goaltender available, Ramsay pulled the trigger and brought in the 20 year-old by the name of Trevor Cann.
“He was a second-round draft pick of Colorado, a player that was very high in their sights,” Ramsay said. “One of the reasons they sent him down to us is because they wanted him to get ice time and get in games,” Ramsay added. Cann went on to post a 11-6-1 record with a .915 save percentage. He was recalled by Lake Erie on February 15.
Trevor Cann
“We want to have young players that want to aspire to higher levels. The more call-ups we get, the more beneficial it is for us in the future for recruiting more players,” he said. Hall said that an NHL affiliation has been on the team’s radar for some time.
“Since 1992 when the Oilers started playing at the AA level, it has been the goal of the organization every year and it has been difficult,” he said. Hall was also quick to point out that Ramsay was a key factor in securing the deal.
“This affiliation is really due to the hard work of our head coach, Bruce Ramsay,” Hall said. “Bruce has done an amazing job with the relationship with player development in Colorado and the general manager in Lake Erie. We have always wanted to have an affiliation, it’s just taken some time,” he added. “Hopefully this is a sign of some great things to come for the Tulsa Oilers and also the Central Hockey League.” The Oilers will open the 2010-11 season at the BOK Center on October 15th against the Wichita Thunder.
Contact the author at john.hall@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at les.stockton@prohockeynews.com
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