OKC Barons Training Camp; A Reference Guide

Earlier today, the Barons released their training camp roster. 31 players are listed to be there, barring any more cuts by the Oilers on Sunday. Since I hadn’t heard of most of the names on the list, I figured I’d compile a bit of a reference guide for a little bit more info on the players. You can check out my previous post on the Allen Americans players attending here.

F - Mark Arcobello, 22
5’8”, 165 lbs.

Played the last four years for Yale. Posted a 35 point season in 08-09, and a 36 point season in 09-10, playing 34 games each season. Hasn’t signed anywhere this year as far as I’ve been able to find.

LW – Jesse Gimblett, 25
6’2”, 209 lbs.

Tried out for the Oilers this season, and was invited to Barons camp. Played the last four years for the Univ. of Alberta, averaging just under a point a game for the last three. Played four games for the Springfield Falcons last season posting one assist and 6 PIM.

C – Milan Kytnar, 21
6’0”, 183 lbs.

Drafted #127 in the ’07 draft by the Oilers, he was assigned to the Barons after trying out for the Oilers. Played last year for the Vancouver Giants, netting 39 points in 42 games. He scored 64 points in 65 games for the Saskatoon Blades in 08-09, as well as 6 points in 7 games with the Slovakia U-20 team in the Junior Championships.

RW – James Livingston, 20
6’1”, 192 lbs.

Drafted #70 in the ‘08 draft by the St. Louis Blues. Tried out for the Oilers and was invited to Barons camp. Played three full season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and part of a fourth before being traded to the Plymouth Whalers. He posted 37 points in 66 games in 08-09. In 09-10, he posted 26 points in 36 games with the Greyhounds and 9 points in 24 games in the regular season and 2 points in 9 games during the Whalers playoff run.

LW – Matt Marquardt, 23
6’2”, 223 lbs.

Drafted #194 in the ’06 draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Tried out for the Oilers before being assigned to OKC. Scored 22 points in 71 games in 08-09, and 10 points in 09-10 with the Providence Bruins, and 3 points in 9 games with the Reading Royals before being traded to the Oilers for Cody Wild. He was held scoreless in 4 games with the Springfield Falcons, and scored 2 points with the Stockton Thunder in 7 regular season games and posted 10 points in 15 games in their playoff run.

RW/LW – Mike Thomas, 20
6’1”, 192 lbs.

Tried out for the Oilers and was invited to the Barons camp. Has played 4 season with the Saint John Sea Dogs, scoring 20 points in 51 regular season games and 7 points in 18 games during their playoff run.

F – Brian Matte, 22
5’11”, 165 lbs.

Played in 48 regular season games with the Prince George Cougars last season, posting 30 points and 2 points in their 4 playoff games.

LW – Chris Cloud, 21
5’11”, 185 lbs.

Last season, he was held scoreless in 3 games with the Wheeling Nailers  and posted 21 points in 56 games with the Amarillo Gorillas in their last season.

LW/D – Scott Howes, 23
5’11”, 190 lbs.

Played 5 games in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose in 08-09 but was held scoreless, and posted 22 points in 39 games with the Victoria Salmon Kings. Last season, he posted 26 points in 47 regular season games with the Salmon Kings and was held scoreless in 3 playoff games. Signed with the Stockton Thunder for this season.

C – Troy Schwab, 25
5’8”, 192 lbs.

Played last season with the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL, posting 53 points in 67 games. Prior to that, he played four seasons with the Lake Superior State University of the NCAA, posting 110 points in 150 games.

C – Matthew Robertson, 22
5’9”, 159 lbs.

Played last season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the then-IHL, posting 44 points in 76 regular season games, and 2 points in 7 playoff games. He is signed to the Tulsa Oilers of the CHL this season.

RW – Dan Riedel, 25
5’9”, 176 lbs.

In 08-09, he played 55 games with the Dayton Bombers, posting 46 points in 55 games, and 11 points in 17 regular season games, and 14 points in 17 playoff games with the Las Vegas Wranglers. Last season, he posted 41 points in 52 games with the Tulsa Oilers. He is signed to the Tulsa Oilers this season.

F – Mick Lawrence, 27
5’10, 205 lbs.

Has played the last two seasons with the Las Vegas Wranglers, posting 34 points in 38 games in 08-09, and 52 points in 64 games last season.

LW – Matt Pierce, 25
5’11, 181 lbs.

Posted 50 points in 60 regular season games, and 4 points in 9 playoff games with the Cincinnati Cyclones last season. He was held scoreless in one game with the Houston Aeros. He is signed to the Texas Brahmas this season.

LW/RW - Vladimir Nikiforov, 22
5’6”, 170 lbs.

Played the last two seasons with the Utah Grizzlies. Posted 33 points in 45 regular season games and 5 points in 5 playoff games in 08-09. Posted 51 points in 61 regular season games and was held scoreless in 2 playoff games last season. He played 19 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 08-09 posting 5 points in 19 games. He is signed to the Florida Everblades this season.

F – Brian Bicek, 24
5’8”, 170 lbs.

Played last season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, posting 55 points in 76 regular season games and 3 points in 7 playoff games. He is signed to the Evansville Icemen this season.

LW – Philippe Cornet, 20
5’11”, 176 lbs.

Drafted #133 in the ’08 draft by the Oilers. Assigned to OKC after trying out for the Oilers. Played last season with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies posting 77 points in 65 regular season games and 11 points in 11 playoff games. Played for the U-17 Canada Quebec team in 05-06 posting 3 points in 6 games.

D – Jordan Bendfeld, 22
6’3”, 229 lbs.

Drafted #193 in the ’08 draft by the Oilers. Was assigned to OKC after trying out for the Oilers. Has played the last two season with the Stockton Thunder. He posted 3 points in 17 games in 08-09, and 10 points in 52 regular season games along with 5 points in 15 playoff games last season. He played with the Springfield Falcons in 9 games last season posting 1 assist.

D – Brennan Barker, 25
5’11”, 203 lbs.

Has played the last four years with the University of Alabama-Huntsville. Last season, he posted 11 points and 40 PIM in 28 games.

D – Anthony Aiello, 24
6’1”, 194 lbs.

Played 51 games with the Stockton Thunder last season, posting 27 points and 55 PIM in the regular season, and 9 points and 6 PIM in 15 playoff games.

D – Mike Egener, 26
6’4”, 216 lbs.

Drafted #34 in the ’03 draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. He played 65 games last season with the Ontario Reign posting 29 points and 189 PIM. Played in the AHL with Springfield and Norfolk from 04-08.

D – Steven Vanoosten, 25
6’1”, 194 lbs.

Played last season with the Stockton Thunder, posting 19 points and 16 PIM in 52 regular season games and 7 points and 12 PIM in 15 playoff games.

D – Sean Erickson, 26
6’0”, 174 lbs.

Played last season with the Tulsa Oilers, posting 18 points and 31 PIM in 59 games. He is signed to the Tulsa Oilers this season.

D – Tyler Fleck, 31
5’10”, 209 lbs.

A name that any OKC Blazers fan will know, Fleck played 9 full season with the Blazers before they folded. He split last season between the Missouri Mavericks and the Tulsa Oilers before being injured towards the end of the season.

G – Bryan Pitton, 22
6’1”, 168 lbs.

Drafted #133 in the ’06 draft by the Oilers. He was assigned to OKC after trying out for the Oilers. Played in 22 regular season games with the Stockton Thunder, posting a 2.85 GAA and .921 Save% and 4 playoff games posting a 1.70 GAA and .943 Save%.  He played 8 games with the Springfield Falcons posting a 4.71 GAA and .857 Save%.

G – Beau Erickson, 24
6’1”, 170 lbs.

Began last season with the Reading Royals, playing in 5 games and posting a 2.78 GAA and .915 Save%. Then moved to the Utah Grizzlies, playing in 17 games and posting a 3.32 GAA and .899 Save%. Then he played 2 games with the South Carolina Stingrays, posting a 0.50 GAA and .973 Save%. Played one game with the Portland Pirates, posting a 3.00 GAA and .857 Save%.

G – Wayne Savage, 23
6’0”, 174 lbs.

Played the last two seasons with the Univ. of Prince Edward Island. In 08-09, he played in 15 games posting a 3.72 GAA and .896 Save%. In 09-10, he played in 21 games posting a 3.23 GAA and .904 Save%. He is signed to the Texas Brahmas for this season.

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The Barons camp opens on Monday morning. Scott will be reporting from there on Monday and I will be there on Tuesday and we’ll both be at the Blue/White game on Thursday. Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Scott at @OilFieldHockey and myself at @AHLBarons, for live updates. I will also be traveling down to Cedar Park for the Barons preseason game against the Texas Stars on Saturday night.

-Written by Eric Rodgers-