Derrick The Baron / Mascot for OKC Barons / Winner Announced

After months of fans waiting -- and me bugging them -- the OKC Barons announced that Derrick the Baron is the new mascot for the Oklahoma City Barons hockey club.

OKC Barons Logo

The winner of the Name The Mascot contest was Sara Silverhorn. As the winner of the Barons Name the Mascot contest, she wins a VIP trip for two to Dallas to see the Barons parent club, the Edmonton Oilers, take on the Dallas Stars in January. Congrats Sara!

Did I mention that Derrick is a mountain lion? Confused on why a mountain lion? Me too. But then I read this and it makes sense.

Below in BLUE is what the OKCBarons.com site had to say about the new mascot;

The Oklahoma City Barons are proud to introduce their mascot, Derrick. Although his territory can stretch from the base of the Rocky Mountains all the way into the plains, he chooses Oklahoma City as his home.


Derrick’s ancestors were among the group of mountain lions first sighted in Oklahoma in the mid-1800’s. Since that time, his family has honed their skills to be good athletes, great entertainers and a champion for their favorite sports team. Several of Derrick’s relatives have been involved in sports including football, baseball and basketball in places spanning the country including West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Colorado and California.

However, Derrick felt he had a different calling. Although he liked being outdoors, there was something about the sport of ice hockey. The crisp passes, the hard hits, the effortless skating of the players and the enthusiasm of the crowds drew Derrick to hockey like a moth to a porch light.


Derrick’s training was complete and he was ready to be a part of his own team. His own hockey team. The crisp passes, the hard hits, the effortless skating and the enthusiasm of the crowd connected with Derrick very deeply. Once he learned of the Oklahoma City Barons, Derrick knew in his heart he had found his team. The Barons represented his mountain lions’ ideals on and off the ice. A foundation of strength and pride in his teammates, caring about the fans and providing fun, family entertainment to the residents of Oklahoma City. Immediately, he began his journey from the high plains of the Rocky Mountains to Oklahoma City. Derrick was seen exploring the halls of the Cox Convention Center by the Barons staff. He wasn’t stalking any prey, he was learning the easiest way to engage fans, take pictures and give high five to fans. That display of passion for Barons’ hockey led to an interview and Derrick was officially hired July 27, 2010.


Although fierce looking, he has a soft side and loves to take time to stop and give a high five, take a picture with a fan or sign an autograph. He looks forward meeting each and every Barons fan. Derrick is available for appearances at any function. Contact the Barons office at 232-GOAL to have Derrick make your next group outing, church function or birthday party memorable for all who attend.


Well I guess I don't have much left to bug the Barons about anymore. Oh yeah... they still need a General Manager. I'll get on that tomorrow.  ; )

-Written by Smokin' Ray-

Gilbert Brule Re-Signs With Oilers / Sam Gagner Next?

Gilbert Brule an RFA, signed a 2 year deal today with the Edmonton Oilers worth $1.85 million per year. With the new deal, Brule avoids arbitration that was scheduled for August 3rd. I expect Brule to have a good year this season. He has lots to prove.

Sam Gagner has still not signed a new contract with the Oilers yet. Gagner is also a RFA and one would have to think that he would be next in line to sign with the Oilers. No doubt he was waiting to see what Brule got before he proceed to negotiate his deal. Does Gagner try and go for $3.5 - $4 million a year range? You bet, but I think he signs for $3 million a season range. Just a guess. Stay tuned on more Gagner contract news right here at OilersJambalaya.com.

-Written by Smokin' Ray-

Can the Barons make it to the postseason?

With the Barons' roster not being complete, it hasn't stopped new head coach Todd Nelson having confidence in the new Organization. In the most recent "The Pipeline" article Barons' intern Chris Wescott had a Q &A with Coach Nelson. And reading through the article you get the feeling that Nelson is ready to hit the ground running. But what can Nelson do right now with only 2 players that will be playing in Oklahoma City next season? Nelson was brought in too late in the game to have any input on who is going to play here. But it hasn't stopped him from not having the utmost confidence in the Oilers' choice for players for OKC. Also in the article he stats that:

"My expectations are to have a very competitive team and vie for the Calder Cup. And it's one thing that every team in the American League has for expectations. But, with the people we've signed as free agents and also the young talent through the draft process, I think that it's a pretty believable thing."

His statement to Wescott speaks volumes on how hard Nelson wants to get a winning tradition back to Oklahoma City. Can the Barons' repeat what the Stars did last season, by making it to the Calder Cup Finals? It's a lofty goal to get to the finals in year one, but just making it to the post season should be the Barons' goal for this first season. And only time will tell on how successful Nelson will be with the Barons' in the first season.

Stockton Thunder Announce Pre-Season Schedule

2010-11 Preseason Schedule Released

07/23/2010 1:15 PM - Home battle with Ontario coming Oct. 8 at Stockton Arena, two-game series at Alaska scheduled for Oct. 5-6 at 8:15 p.m.

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STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, proud ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League, has announced a four-game preseason schedule for the 2010-11 season which starts on the road, Oct. 5 against the Alaska Aces at 8:15 p.m.

The Thunder will host the Ontario Reign in the team's lone preseason appearance at Stockton Arena, starting at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8. Ticket information will be announced soon. The home game is part of a special home-and-home style series with the Reign and both teams meet the following night in Ontario at 7:00 p.m. at a site to be announced.

The Thunder will launch the preseason schedule with a two-game series at Alaska, marking the team's first inter-state preseason battle with an ECHL opponent.

STOCKTON THUNDER 2010-11 PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE (all times PT)
DATE                                  OPPONENT                LOCATION
TIME
TUESDAY Oct. 5             @ ALASKA              Sullivan Arena 8:15 p.m.
WEDNESDAY Oct. 6      @ ALASKA              Sullivan Arena 8:15 p.m.
FRIDAY Oct. 8                    ONTARIO             Stockton Arena 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY Oct. 9         @ ONTARIO             TBA 7:00 p.m.

Stockton and Alaska will meet for the first time since the Thunder eliminated the Aces from the Kelly Cup Playoffs, a 3-1 series win in the 2010 National Conference Quarterfinal. Both teams will also meet nine times during the regular season, starting Wednesday, Dec. 15 at Sullivan Arena at 8:15 p.m.

The Thunder and Ontario, who are competing in their third year as in-state rivals of the Pacific Division, will meet ten times in the regular season including Opening Night, starting at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15 at Stockton Arena. The Thunder went 7-3-0 in ten games last season against the Reign.

OPENING NIGHT AND TICKET INFORMATION
Opening Night is Friday, Oct. 15, when the Thunder opens the 2010-11 regular season at home against the Ontario Reign, starting at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena.

The Thunder are freezing Season Ticket prices for the 2010-11 season, which are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (209) 373-1500 or by visiting http://www.stocktonthunder.com/. Partial-season Mini Plans are also available now and information on individual tickets will be announced soon.

A two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the fifth consecutive season in 2009-10. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.

-Written by the Stockton Thunder-

*reprinted by OilersJambalaya.com with permission from the Stockton Thunder Hockey Club*

The Poll Results / Who Makes The Oilers This Year?

With a simple question of "Who Will Make The Oilers Roster This Season?"

These were the results of the 120 people the voted. Multiple answers were allowed (Thank You!);

Taylor Hall 114 out of 120 (95%)
Jordan Eberle 97 out of 120 (80%)
Magnus Paajarvi 100 out of 120 (83%)
Teemu Hartikainen 6 out of 120 (5%)
Linus Omark 33 out of 120 (27%)
Someone Else 8 out of 120 (6%)
None 0 (0%)

Votes so far: 120
Poll closed

A stunning 95% of people picked Taylor Hall to make the team. No doubt he will. He can't go play with the OKC Barons, so it's either Oilers or the Spitfires. I think he's beyond Juniors and he will play with the Oilers.

Now the votes were very close between Paajarvi and Eberle. Paajarvi edges out the new Captain Canada by three votes. Most fans believe that all three of these guys will make the team this year. I still have my doubts, but I'm sure the fans will be right.

Linus Omark did garner 33 votes and tha's not bad. I'm willing to bet that Omark starts the year with the Barons and not the Oilers. What? I like the easy bets too.

The surprising fact, 8 people actually voted for someone else to make the team. Whom may that be I wonder?

Thanks for voting everyone!

-Written by Smokin' Ray-