Stockton Thunder / Training Camp Time! / #StkThunder

Training Camp Time!

09/17/2010 4:34 PM -
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OILERS: Complete 2010-11 Training Camp coverage
SHARKS: Complete 2010-11 Training Camp coverage

VIDEO: Bryan Pitton's pregame comments before Wednesday night
VIDEO: Jordan Bendfeld and "Fight Club"
VIDEO: Mike Benton joins Worcester Sharks head coach Roy Sommer
MORE: German connection hits Sharks camp

Summer is finally over. Both affiliates, the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks, hit the ice beginning Saturday to open 2010-11 main training camps. The Thunder has you covered to keep in the know of all things Oil Country and Team Teal.

Both the Oilers and Sharks finished 2-1 in the round robin format of the 2010 Vancouver Canucks YoungStars Tournament in Penticton, B.C.

Bryan Pitton, shown practicing
with the Oilers, is one of two
players with Thunder experience
in NHL Training Camp.
(photo by Andy Devlin/EOHC)

Two players with experience in a Thunder uniform, goaltender Bryan Pitton and defenseman Jordan Bendfeld, are participating in NHL Training Camp starting this weekend.

Bendfeld, 22, was selected in the seventh round (193rd overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by Edmonton and has skated in 69 career games for the Thunder over the last two seasons (2008-10), scoring 13 points (1g-12a) while posting 116 penalty minutes. He recorded five points (1g-4a) and a +10 rating in 15 Kelly Cup Playoff games last season.

Bendfeld had 15 penalty minutes in two games, against Calgary and San Jose, during the tournament for the Oilers.

Pitton, 22, was selected by the Oilers in the fifth round (133rd overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and is 18-28-6 with a 3.18 goals-against-average and .901 save percentage in 56 lifetime games with Stockton. Last season, he earned two separate recalls directly to Edmonton and left the ECHL on Feb. 1 on a recall to Springfield of the AHL by ranking second in the league with a .921 save percentage.

Pitton stopped 26 shots on Wednesday against San Jose, his only apperance of the tournament.

The 6-foot-2, 176-pound goaltender broke a Thunder playoff record last year with 49 saves in Game 3 of the National Conference Final, a 1-0 win in triple overtime against the Idaho Steelheads for his first career playoff shutout.

Thunder radio play-by-play announcer Mike Benton, on-site for the tournament's webcast coverage, contributed with reports for the Sharks website, http://www.sjsharks.com/.

-Written by the Stockton Thunder-

Michael Garnett / Is He Right For The OKC Barons?

Now I understand that the OKC Barons might have one of Devan Dubnyk or Jeff Deslauriers -- and that's the best possible option -- to start the season. But if either one of them do not clear waivers or the Oilers decide to keep both with the big club, the Barons need another option as Bryan Pitton is not the answer.

In fact, I wouldn't cry if Pitton went to Stockton -- or which ever team the Oilers choose to affiliate with -- and was a tandem with Andrew Perugini. His (Pitton) best GAA was with the Thunder this past year. It's clear by his stats that he can't play at a higher level than the ECHL, and he's not a good enough goalie to bother keeping around the Barons. Worst comes to worst, he can be called up if needed or play as a back up. But according to Kevin Lowe, the Oilers organization is only going to operate in a forward motion. No more shortcuts. Wouldn't this include turfing Bryan Pitton and picking up a better goalie?

Enter Michael Garnett.

Who?

Well, to be honest, I don't really remember why I picked this guy. I don't. Maybe I seen him on TV or read about him somewhere? I can't remember. But there must have been a reason. *shrugs shoulders*

So let's take a look at what possibly makes him so special and why I think he should be signed to be a Baron.

He achieved his best career GAA this season (2.06) and he posted 5 shutouts. Not bad. He was 24W-15L-4T in 44 Games. Again, not bad. But most importantly, these games were played in the KHL (Balashikha MVD HC) so it wasn't like he's been playing in a bush league. I think we can all agree that the KHL is decent league. No? With an average that's that close to two goals against is pretty good. Take a look at the NHL stats, I think you can make your own assumptions.

Maybe I picked him because he's from Saskatoon, Sask? He's practically a local and possibly an Oiler fan. Maybe that's part of the reason I liked him? I don't know. Did I mention he played his junior hockey in Red Deer? Again, practically local. Or maybe I picked him because he has AHL experience by playing for a few years with the Chicago Wolves and he could easily step into a role in OKC and be comfortable?

I really don't remember. All I know is that I have had his name saved in my draft box for a while now. So I thought why not post this? Maybe someone else out there knows more about him and can fill me in on why I liked him at that time.

-Written by Smokin' Ray Burnt at Oilers Jambalaya-