Tulsa World: Oilers to hit ice with high expectations

MAKE US YOUR HOMEPAGE | Saturday, November 21, 2009 | WIRELESS

Home > News > Article

Newspaper View Print this story

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

Oilers to hit ice with high expectations
Tulsa's new coach, Bruce Ramsay, leads the revamped team.

Michel Beausoleil is one of three Oiler players to return to the team this season. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World file

By JOHN RITTENOURE World Correspondent
Published: 10/23/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 10/23/2009 4:09 PM

When the Tulsa Oilers play their 2009-10 Central Hockey League home opener at the BOK Center on Saturday night, fans will see virtually a new team.

Only three players — R.J. Linder, Michel Beausoleil and Jake Riddle — return from last year's last-place team.

Several of the new players played in the International Hockey League. Others came from CHL teams that were used to beating Tulsa.

But now, they are members of a rebuilt Tulsa team ready to serve notice it is no longer the CHL doormat.

The commitment to change began in May when team owner Jeff Lund hired 40-year-old Bruce Ramsay as head coach. Ramsay spent the last three seasons coaching the IHL's Muskegon Fury, where he compiled a 127-82-19 record.

Ramsay immediately went to work searching for players who could put the Oilers in the win column. Nine players come from CHL teams (four played last year for Rocky Mountain) and seven were recruited from the IHL.

"You want to start with a core group of guys that will make you a solid foundation, players that will produce and have a history of doing well and you build around that," Ramsay said. "Most teams have a base of guys from years past. In my situation, coming in new, I wanted to make a lot of changes and bring in fresh blood."

From offense to defense, Ramsay says, a coach wants a team strong in all phases of the game.

"You want to find a variety of everything," Ramsay said. "One of the things I focused on is speed and mobility. With the way the game is now, you can't afford to have a lot of guys who are huge and can't skate very well. You have to be able to move the puck, jump in the rush and create offense. You need skilled guys up front that bring a lot to the team.

"I also focus on character. I want to have guys that want to be here and are committed to winning and getting better. You need guys that are committed to each other, and when you find that right combination it is a special treat."

Goaltending also cannot be overlooked, and Ramsay likes what he sees in Kevin Armstrong and Marty Magers. Armstrong produced a 4.24 goals against average playing for Ramsay at Muskegon last year. Magers had a 2.83 GAA for Rocky Mountain.

"You can't get by without goaltending," Ramsay said. "It does not matter how good your team is if your goaltending is not there. Kevin Armstrong is a very good quality young goaltender and proved to me last year in the playoffs that he is ready for the big leagues. Marty Magers is hurt right now but is a quality goaltender. Ryan Ludzik is in here right now and did very well last year in the IHL."

When the team skates onto ice at 7:35 p.m. against Wichita Saturday, Oilers general manager Taylor Hall feels Tulsans will be as excited as he is when they see this team's potential.

"I have to admit that I am very excited," said Hall. "It is very difficult to build a team in the middle of the season, and what we went through last season was very frustrating. We wanted to point the ship in the right direction, and it really comes down to leadership. I feel the Oilers are very fortunate to be able to hire someone like Bruce Ramsay."

Hall says the team has depth this season.

"From what I see, I think we are three lines deep, six great defensemen and solid goaltenders," said Hall. "With the talent in the CHL this year, you have to be deep. And I think that is what we are starting to see."

2009-10 Tulsa Oilers schedule

Day Date	Opponent	Time
Fri. Oct. 16	at Mississippi	7:05 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 23	at Wichita	7:05 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 24	WICHITA	7:35 p.m.
Tue. Oct. 27	RAPID CITY	7:05 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 30	at Mississippi	7:05 p.m.
Tue. Nov. 3	ALLEN	7:05 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 7	at Texas	7:05 p.m.
Tue. Nov. 10	at Mississippi	7:05 p.m.
Fri. Nov. 13	RAPID CITY	7:35 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 14	MISSISSIPPI	7:35 p.m.
Tue. Nov. 17	WICHITA	7:05 p.m.
Fri. Nov. 20	at Missouri	7:05 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 21	at Wichita	7:05 p.m.
Sun. Nov. 22	WICHITA	4:05 p.m.
Thu. Nov. 26	MISSOURI	7:05 p.m.
Fri. Nov. 27	TEXAS	7:35 p.m.
Sun. Nov. 29	at Texas	4:05 p.m.
Tue. Dec. 1	COLORADO	7:05 p.m.
Fri. Dec. 4	at Rapid City	7:05 p.m.
Sat. Dec. 5	at Rapid City	7:05 p.m.
Fri. Dec. 11	at Allen	7:30 p.m.
Sat. Dec. 12	TEXAS	7:35 p.m.
Sun. Dec. 13	ARIZONA	4:05 p.m.
Fri. Dec. 18	AMARILLO	7:35 p.m.
Sat. Dec. 19	RAPID CITY	7:35 p.m.
Sun. Dec. 20	at Bossier-Shreveport	4:05 p.m.
Fri. Dec. 25	WICHITA	7:35 p.m.
Sun. Dec. 27	at Laredo	4:00 p.m.
Tue. Dec. 29	at Rio Grande Valley	7:35 p.m.
Thu. Dec. 31	MISSISSIPPI	7:05 p.m.
Sat. Jan. 2	MISSISSIPPI	7:35 p.m.
Sun. Jan. 3	at Amarillo	4:05 p.m.
Fri. Jan. 8	at Wichita	7:05 p.m.
Fri. Jan. 15	at Texas	7:05 p.m.
Fri. Jan. 22	WICHITA	7:35 p.m.
Sat. Jan. 23	at Wichita	7:05 p.m.
Sun. Jan. 24	RIO GRANDE VALLEY	4:05 p.m.
Tue. Jan. 26	MISSOURI	7:05 p.m.
Fri. Jan. 29	COLORADO	7:35 p.m.
Sat. Jan. 30	MISSISSIPPI	7:35 p.m.
Sun. Jan. 31	at Texas	4:05 p.m.
Fri. Feb. 5	at Missouri	7:05 p.m.
Sat. Feb. 6	at Missouri	7:05 p.m.
Tue. Feb. 9	COLORADO	7:05 p.m.
Thu. Feb. 11	at Allen	7:30 p.m.
Fri. Feb. 12	MISSISSIPPI	7:35 p.m.
Sat. Feb. 13	AMARILLO	7:35 p.m.
Tue. Feb. 16	MISSOURI	7:05 p.m.
Thu. Feb. 18	at Missouri	7:05 p.m.
Fri. Feb. 19	at Bossier-Shreveport	7:05 p.m.
Sun. Feb. 21	BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT	4:05 p.m.
Wed. Feb. 24	at Wichita	7:05 p.m.
Fri. Feb. 26	at Missouri	7:05 p.m.
Sat. Feb. 27	BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT	7:35 p.m.
Sun. Feb. 28	BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT	4:05 p.m.
Wed. March 3	MISSISSIPPI	7:05 p.m.
Fri. March 5	RAPID CITY	7:35 p.m.
Sat. March 6	MISSOURI	7:35 p.m.
Wed. March 10	at Amarillo	11:05 a.m.
Fri. March 12	at Colorado	7:05 p.m.
Sat. March 13	at Colorado	7:05 p.m.
Thu. March 18	at Bossier-Shreveport	7:05 p.m.
Fri. March 19	at Mississippi	7:05 p.m.
Sat. March 20	at Mississippi	7:05 p.m.

By JOHN RITTENOURE World Correspondent

Newspaper View Print this story

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

Reader Comments

Show: Most Recent Comment First

Add your comment

0 comments have been made on this story so far. Tell us what you think below!

Reporting Comments

If you see a comment that violates our terms and conditions, please help us by clicking the "Report this Comment" link next to a comment. That will alert the web staff to review the comment. Thank you. -- Web Editor Jason Collington

Add Your Comment
In order to post a comment on this article, you must sign in to Tulsaworld.com. If you do not have a site account, you can create an account for free.