Lund sells Tulsa Oilers to Wichita's Steven Brothers
By on Jun 25, 2013, at 1:52 PM Updated on 6/25/13 at 4:03 PM
Pro - Oilers
The Tulsa Oilers will play a preseason game against the Wichita Thunder at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Wichita Ice Center.
The Tulsa Oilers signed five players - defenders Andy Willigar and Andrew Himelson and forwards Neilsson Arcibal, Kyle Leahy, and Brett Skalski.
The Tulsa Oilers have been sold to Wichita-based Steven Brothers Sports Management, LLC, the team announced Tuesday at a press conference at the BOK Center.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Oilers will continue to play at the BOK Center.
Steven Brothers, led by Rodney, Brandon and Johnny Steven, bought the franchise from Jeff Lund, who had been involved with the Oilers since the current franchise's inception in 1992. He took over as majority owner in 1999. He was also the first owner of the Tulsa Talons indoor football team before selling his interest in 2004.
Lund will remain owner of the Oilers Ice Center
and the Tulsa Junior Oilers, a tier three junior team in the Western States Hockey League.
The Steven Brothers purchased the CHL's Wichita Thunder in 2011. With the purchase of the Oilers, they now own both remaining original CHL franchises.
"We are thrilled to have this opportunity to be a part of the next chapter of Tulsa Oilers hockey," said Rodney Steven in a press release. "Our first priority is to put a strong, competitive team on the ice."
The Oilers were 22-39 last year, finishing last in the Central Hockey League.
The CHL announced June 16 that the Bloomington Blaze and Fort Worth Brahmas would not play in the league this season.
The league had previously announced expansion franchises in Brampton, Ontario, and St. Charles, Mo., leaving the number of teams in the league at 10.
Pro - Oilers
The Tulsa Oilers will play a preseason game against the Wichita Thunder at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Wichita Ice Center.
The Tulsa Oilers signed five players - defenders Andy Willigar and Andrew Himelson and forwards Neilsson Arcibal, Kyle Leahy, and Brett Skalski.
