Stockton Thunder, Why?

I wanted to introduce myself to the Oilers Jambalaya readers so they could get a feel of where I'm coming from when I write about the Stockton Thunder. I still feel like a "newbie" fan. I got hooked on hockey a few years ago after watching Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco in net on television (during a free preview of Center Ice) and have been obsessed with the sport, and goalies, ever since. And because of my obsession, my boyfriend and some friends eventually took me to the Stockton Arena to see my first live hockey game.

If I remember correctly, the Idaho Steelheads were in town to play the Stockton Thunder. My friends and I sat in the upper level seats, right behind the goal where the Thunder shoots twice. The speed of the skaters, bodies smashing against glass, puck ricocheting around the rink, and the applause from the crowd was and still is intoxicating.

I attended a few more games after that and eventually became a season ticketholder. I've been a season ticketholder for three years and have been lucky to see some amazing talent on the ice. NHL and AHL games are exciting to watch live, but there's something different about ECHL games that I absolutely love.

It's hard to pinpoint exactly what that is. These minor league teams are operating on tight budgets. There are players from all walks of life-fresh out of college, veterans that were drafted by an NHL team but never got to play in the big show, guys that were sent down from an AHL team for more training/experience, etc. These guys aren't making big bucks in the ECHL, but they play grittier and they play hard and for the love of the game-only a small percentage of people make it into the NHL and these guys are aware of that.

What I find really special about the Stockton Thunder is that despite the economy and the newness of the sport in this region (even with the San Jose Sharks nearby), this team gets a large, rowdy crowd night after night. Players love it here, and I hear great compliments about the arena and city from even the opponents' fans.

I hope I can do the Thunder some justice by being able to share information with the readers. Check back soon for more about Coach Thomas' new (and evolving) 2010-2011 Stockton Thunder.

Thanks for reading!

--Lyndall

Souray to Oklahoma City? What the.....?

Today Oilers GM Steve Tambellini went on Inside Sports with Dan Tencer to talk about many of things, one was what does Steve Tambellini plan to do with Sheldon Souray after he clears waivers? Tambellini hinted that minors could be an option as he continues to wait for a trade that will send Souray else where in the league. Does this mean that he will be assigned to Oklahoma City? Tambellini said "We want to see if we can make a trade happen. If not, we'll have to assign him to the minors." There is no specific mention of Oklahoma City, but one would imagine that the organization doesn't want Souray taking playing time from their young prospects such as, Jeff Petry, Alex Plante, Taylor Chorney, Theo Peckham and Johan Motin. Not to mention that players like Petiot, Belle will probably still be sent to the minors.

Where does this leave the Oilers? Do they do what Washington recently did and "loan" Souray to another American Hockey League team to get the playing time needed to facilitate a trade? Or do they assign Souray to Oklahoma, tell him not to report and just pay him for this season and facilitate a buyout next off season? Souray of course could be assigned to Oklahoma, choose to not report and forfeit $9 million? Only time will tell what becomes of the man that once said he would not pull a Pronger and demand a trade.

-Written by Brandon-

Oklahoma CIty Barons LIVE TweetCast of Blue vs White

Welcome to this special, LIVE TweetCast of the Oklahoma City Barons, White vs Blue training camp game. We follow Scott and Eric as the head down to the Cox Convention Center to watch the future Oilers/OKC Barons get ready for a great hockey season. Should be a good time.

GO BARONS!!!

Few Guys Surprise In Oilers Win / Beers and Jeers Game Recap

BEERS & JEERS GAME RECAP

Welcome to another fine Edmonton Oilers Beers & Jeers Game Recap.

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FINAL SCORE

EDMONTON OILERS - 4

PHOENIX COYOTES - 3  SO

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TONIGHT'S STARTING LINES

Magnus Paajarvi - Sam Gagner - Ales Hemsky
Dustin Penner - Andrew Cogliano - Gilbert Brule
Liam Reddox - Colin Fraser - Ryan Jones
Alex Giroux - Ryan O'Marra - Colin McDonald

Ladislav Smid - Alex Plante
Taylor Chorney - Tom Gilbert
Richard Petiot - Kurtis Foster

Jeff Deslauriers
Martin Gerber

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VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

*COMING SOON*

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BEERS & JEERS PLAYER GRADES

The Cult of Hockey Grading System:
10 perfect game,  9 extraordinary,  8 great,  7 good,  6 above average,
5 average,  4 below average,  3 poor,  2 terrible,  1 deserves to be in minors.

#2 JAMES VANDERMEER - (0) DNP

#4 TAYLOR HALL - (0) DNP

#5 LADISLAV SMID - (7) Smid had a real good game. He picked up an assist and had 4 blocked shots. With all this talk about players being ready to take the next step, that's Smid. He's ready.

#6 RYAN WHITNEY - (0) DNP

#10 SHAWN HORCOFF - (0) DNP

#12 ALEXANDRE GIROUX - (6) Giroux had a goal and it did look pretty. But I don't think even with a strong game like tonight, it's enough to stick with the Oilers.

#13 ANDREW COGLIANO - (6) While he did have some good flashes of goodness on the PK, I wasn't all that much of a fan of his tonight. He had 3 shots and that's about all. He did go 50% on faceoffs. That's an improvement.

#14 JORDAN EBERLE - (0) DNP

#16 COLIN FRASER - (6) Fraser played the same way he's played this pre-season. Gritty and hard nosed. He's a guy that will stick up for his linemates. I think I'm going to like Fraser.

#22 JF JACQUES - (0) Injured

#23 LINUS OMARK - (0) DNP

#25 BEN ONDRUS - (0) DNP

#26 KURTIS FOSTER - (7) Foster had himself a steady and productive game. He had a couple of shots and a few hits. There isn't much more to say about Foster other than he's a good guy to have. Very sound.

#27 DUSTIN PENNER - (6) I didn't like his game (Other than his overtime winning goal). He didn't stick out at all for me tonight. I kept waiting for him to make people take notice and he didn't. Can he succeed on the 3rd line this year? Hope so.

#28 RYAN JONES - (6) Jones, in my opinion had a pretty good first half. Even though he was a team worst -3, he did play well. He made some hits and worked his butt off and the minus ratings weren't directly a result of him. In the race for 13 (th spot) with Reddox, I think Jones beat him this game. Tamby must be happy with today's game.

#29 MARTIN GERBER - (7) Gerber came in after JDD went out at the halfway point and made JDD look bad. Gerber is a very capable NHL goalie and should almost stay with the Oilers. His positioning really helps him make a save and make it look easy. If he does go to the Barons, they are going to have solid goaltender this year.

#33 STEVE MACINTYRE - (0) DNP

#35 NIKOLAI KHABIBULIN - (0) DNP

#37 RICHARD PETIOT - (8) BEERS Wow! Petiot won the hearts of the Oiler fans tonight. He was a complete package. He had 6 bone jarring hits and 5 blocked shots. I am tiger, hear me roar! Petiot just made the decision a little easier for Tamby, he's at another level above the rest of the bubble guys. He should make the team. He's that good.

#38 JEFF DESLAURIERS - (6) All he had to do was play a good game to keep his head above the water. He did start out great. He even covered the top part of the net well. But after the first goal, he kind of unravelled. Was this the last time we see JDD in an Oilers uniform? Waivers or a trade seems likely here.

#40 DEVAN DUBNYK - (0) DNP

#41 TAYLOR CHORNEY - (7) You guys should have seen him play. He had a huge hit and then dropped the gloves with Vern Fiddler and actually did really good. He even blacked a few shots. This wasn't the normal Chorney. I liked this one!

#42 RYAN O'MARRA - (6) Nothing special from O'Marra. He did pick up an assist and played OK for the most part. Unless he was different in person (compared to my TV), he's going down to OKC.

#43 JASON STRUDWICK - (0) DNP

#45 SHAWN BELLE - (0) DNP

#46 ZACK STORTINI - (0) DNP

#48 ALEX PLANTE - (7) Plante had a heck of a game. He's also making it tough on Renney on who he's going to keep. Plante took some lessons from MacIntyre this morning and I was hoping for a fight. He didn't, but his game was very physical. Did I mention the assists? 2 of them actually.

#49 THEO PECKHAM - (0) DNP

#54 CHRIS VANDE VELDE - (0) DNP

#57 COLIN MACDONALD - (6) He drew a penalty with some hustle and hard work. I liked that he showed me he wasn't a waste like I said he was. He proved me wrong tonight. Heck, he even scored a goal. Colin's not going to make the Oilers, but he sure is working his ass off and trying.

#58 JEFF PETRY - (0) DNP

#67 GILBERT BRULE - (7) I liked Brule. Best guy on his line.  He tried hard and made some nice plays. 3 shots and 4 hits is a good night for Brule. Add an assist and and that gives him a 7.

#77 TOM GILBERT - (7) Normal Tom Gilbert game. Nothing much to complain about other than he's a shoe shopping softie.

#83 ALES HEMSKY - (8) BEERS Hemsky had fun tonight. He's a different player with Paajarvi and Gagner. This is going to be the #1 line. Hemsky's passing was on the money, but he does still need to shoot more. Maybe he's saving them for the shootout winners like tonight. Atta boy Hemsky! He's the thing that pushed him up to an 8. He blocked 2 shots. I don't recall the last time I seen him do that.

#85 LIAM REDDOX - (6) The Red Ox played well. Did he shine more than Jones? I don't know. I don't think he did. Stat wise he didn't do much. Overall playing, he was OK.

#89 SAM GAGNER - (8) The new 1st line center was fantastic. He needs to hit the net more and maybe he would score more. Hehe! He did score a beauty on a breakaway. He went 41% on the faceoff dot and that is still an area that needs improving, but that's about it. He can play the game with his smarts. Playing with those guys makes him look smarter. I hope they stay together.

#91 MAGNUS PAAJARVI - (8) BEERS Holy hell Paajarvi can fly. BOOM! Just like that he's off like a bat out of hell. He provides so much space for the skilled Hemsky and the shorter, Gagner. Paajarvi is the glue for any line, but this line needs him the most. No doubt in my mind Paajarvi has the best shot to win the Calder for rookie of the year. He's just THAT GOOD!

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EVENT SUMMARY

GAME SUMMARY

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BAD TIMING PENALTY (what is a Bad Timing Penalty?)

None -

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POST GAME VIDEO

*coming soon*

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CLICK HERE TO VIEW TWEETCAST

Thank you for reading OilersJambalaya.com and OilFieldHockey.com. We are changing the way you look at the Edmonton Oilers. One reader at a time.

Cult Of Hockey - Edmonton Journal

-Written by Smokin' Ray-

Oilers vs Coyotes LIVE TweetCast

Welcome to this LIVE TweetCast of the Oilers vs Coyotes pre-season game.

Church of Eberle Game Preview

TONIGHTS LINES

Magnus Paajarvi - Sam Gagner - Ales Hemsky
Dustin Penner - Andrew Cogliano - Gilbert Brule
Liam Reddox - Colin Fraser - Ryan Jones
Alex Giroux - Ryan O'Marra - Colin McDonald

Ladislav Smid - Alex Plante
Taylor Chorney - Tom Gilbert
Richard Petiot - Kurtis Foster

Jeff Deslauriers
Martin Gerber

GOILERS!!!