Edmonton Oilers Renew Contract With Stockton Thunder

Edmonton Oilers Renew Contract With Stockton Thunder
Oilers renew relationship with ECHL's Stockton Thunder for 2011-12 season

Tuesday, 13.09.2011
6:00 PM
News By Edmonton Oilers Press Release  

General Manager Steve Tambellini announced today the Edmonton Oilers and the Stockton Thunder of the ECHL have reached a one-year affiliation agreement for the 2011-12 season.

For the sixth consecutive season, Stockton will serve as the AA minor-league affiliate for Oilers prospects. Since the Thunder and Oilers began their partnership in 2006-07, the Thunder have advanced to the Kelly Cup Playoffs six consecutive years.

"We're very pleased to extend our relationship with Stockton,” said Tambellini. “The Thunder play an important role in helping to develop our players and we look forward to continue working with them."

Seven former Thunder players – right wing Troy Bodie, goaltender Devan Dubnyk, right wing Colin McDonald, center Ryan O’Marra, center Tim Sestito, left wing Liam Reddox and defenseman Bryan Young – have gone on to play in the NHL.

Under the agreement, the Thunder will also continue to serve as the ECHL affiliate of the Oklahoma City Barons, who operate as the American Hockey League affiliate of the Oilers.

-WRITTEN BY THE EDMONTON OILERS-

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Is On Twitter!!!

While I know that this isn't big news, but if you haven't checked out twitter yet, you should.

Tyler Pitlick and Tyler Bunz have convinced RNH to join the twitter group.  I love the fact that twitter puts us so close to all these young stars of the Edmonton Oilers.  It feels like you really get to know who these kids are.  For the most part they are guarded about what they say, but it does shed some light on how and what they think.  Guess what? They're normal just like you and me.

So go ahead and sign up for twitter. Find out what RNH has to say. www.twitter.com/RNH_93

While your there, follow us too! www.twitter.com/OilersJambalaya

Oilers Lines For Tonight's Game vs Winnipeg Jets (Young Stars)

The lines have changed slightly for tonight's game against the Jets.  The only forward line that stays the same is the RNH line.

The defence looks a little different too with Teubert, Marincin and Musil out of the lineup. Should be interesting to see how the fresh faces look.

Tyler Bunz will start in goal.

Game time: 8:30pm MT

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Nugent-Hopkins, Hamilton, Pitlick, Rajala, Davidson, Gernat, Fedun, Bunz


TONIGHTS FORWARD LINES
Hamilton-Nugent-Hopkins-Pelss
Ferguson-Pitlick-Reider
Czerwonka-Smith-Rajala
Tyrvainen-Schaber-Martindale

DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Davidson-Blain
Vannieuwenhuizen-Lowery
Gernat-Fedun

GOALIES
Bunz
Roy

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY-

Hockey Faceoff 101

101

I think its time to head back to school, faceoff school! How many years are the Edmonton Oilers going to take to fix this problem? I know, I know. We all have heard it a million times. We have discussed it a million times. Question is, when will it start changing? Maybe the problem is, they are not sure what a hockey faceoff is. Let's see...hmm..I got it!

Wikipedia: Hockey faceoff
"When two teams line up in opposition to each other, and the opposing centres attempt to gain control of the puck after it is dropped between their sticks by an official."

Not sure the definition will help the Oilers either. I do have another thought however. What if they were to learn from some of the best in the business?  The Washington Capitals center David Steckel has won 64.5% of his faceoffs a year ago ; no one has finished the season with a percentage that high since the NHL lockout in 2004-05. Center Boyd Gordon was 58% with Washington as well. Those are some high numbers. In fact because I care so much, I personally went out and had the faceoff teaching from these fabulous faceoff players brought to the Oilers via our website here at @oilerjambalaya.com

Here is the Video:

On second thought, maybe this may be a little too complicated at this point in time. Maybe we could start smaller? Perhaps it is possible to start by learning the art of winning a faceoff in "Air Hockey" first. After all you know what they say (practice makes perfect)

 If worse comes to worse, we could always considering paying off the referee's to drop the puck a little more to our side.

ok, enough with the stupid talk. I know the Edmonton Oilers work on their faceoffs in practice. They take the centers and work on techniques and drills several times. Because we don't hear of the Oilers doing this in practice, it would be ignorant of us to believe they wouldn't take time to hone this part of their game. In  fact during their 2011 Development Camp in July, I personally sat and watched Coach Sillinger working on faceoffs with Lander, Nugent-Hopkins and Pitlick.

What was sweet, was to see RNH put those new skills into practice in the World Jr development camp, red and white scrimmage games. In fact Nugent-Hopkins won 75% of his faceoffs the first game in Edmonton and about 60% the next night. His main opponents were Ryan Johanson and Ryan Strome. They may not be veterans but they are known to be pretty decent faceoff guys.

I was pretty excited to see this. I knew RNH was average in the WHL playoffs, but I held out hope. I knew Lander (thanks to Lowetide) was averaging almost 50% against men in the SEL. So to say last night's rookie game caused some disappointment is a understatement. I recorded as best as I could, faceoff winning percentage by player. I thought the Oilers website would have this statistic, so decided to stop following by the 50 minute mark of the game. Turns out, they didn't record FO%. My statistic may be off a 2% but is pretty accurate. I found the following for faceoff % by individual player.

Ryan Martindale 50% 
(He started by winning 25%  in first half but then won 75% the last half )

Anton Lander 50%
(was pretty consistant by winning a couple, then losing a couple)

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 40%
(went 4 for 6 at start but then started losing most the draws)

I know this can be worked on, but Lander is considered good at faceoffs and 50% is not good against a rookie team from Vancouver. Martindale got stronger as the game went on. RNH was a concern for me. Maybe there was other factors in play, I am not sure. All I know is, RNH will need to be better should he actually be considered a possibility to play the year with the Edmonton Oilers. This is a huge concern (faceoffs) with the veterans on the team already, the last thing we need is to have a development system that is weak in this department as well.

Is there cause for alarm? I doubt it. I am probably just over reacting as most of us fans do. After all, I can't see the Oilers sitting still and not helping improve the development of their players in this area of weakness. Everything I said earlier was just in good humour but you have to be praying this will be a area that is addressed soon, and sooner then later.

In the meantime I will be watching Tuesday night's game in anticipation of seeing the Oilers FO% improving, even if by 3%. That all being said, still pumped for another Oilers game. My prediction is a closer tilt. Maybe a 5-3 win? less then 24 hours til puck drop.

you can follow me on twitter at www.twitter/revingev

Colten Teubert Concussed??? Curtis Hamilton Injured???

Colten Teubert isn't practicing with the Oilers this moring in Penticton, BC. He took a hard punch last night vs the Canucks (see video below) and it's possible he now has a concussion.  His nose was bleeding bad after the fight and it is possible he just has a broken nose and not a concussion. Either way, he's not skating today.

We will post updates right here as they are released.

EDIT: He suffered a broken nose. No talk of a concussion. He says he will not play in the last two Young Stars games. 

Here is the video of the incident.

CURTIS HAMILTON

Jason Gregor is reporting that Curtis Hamilton left the ice early during practice today. It appears he tweaked his leg in last night's game and was seen going off the ice and was bending or flexing his leg.

We will also keep you posted on this.

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY-