Barons hire Assistant Coach Rocky Thompson

Late tonight, Dean Millard of The Pipeline Show reported that the Barons have signed former Edmonton Oil Kings assistant coach Rocky Thompson for the same position in Oklahoma City. Thompson had been with the Oil Kings for three years before being let go this past offseason.

Thompson was a RW and was drafted by the Calgary Flames in 1995. In 25 games in the NHL, Thompson tallied 117 penalty minutes. He spent most of his career in the AHL, having played 566 games and scoring 69 points while totaling 1,919 penalty minutes.

This will mark his third stint with the Oilers organization. Having played two seasons with the previous incarnation of the Barons, the Road Runners, and then coaching with the Oil Kings who are owned by the Oilers.

Thompson said to Millard that coach Todd Nelson wants him to be down in Oklahoma City as soon as possible to start getting things ready. With both Nelson and Gerry Fleming in Canada for the Prospects Tournament and training camp, I would venture a guess that he'll be receiving the players in as they're cut from the Oilers training camp and preparing them for the Barons camp starting Sept. 27.

-Written by Eric Rodgers-

Ales Hemsky, The A or Not the A?

I kind of started to pipe off today (what's new) on twitter about who deserves to wear a letter this year for the Oilers. Steve Tambellini said today on the team 1260 that there will be a captain this season. So why not start some speculation?

So...

I started thinking about the current roster and really, you can hate Horcoff's contract all you want, but you can't hate his work ethics. He does give it his all and he never quits. He is IMO the best veteran guy to help these kids grow. Shawn Horcoff is going to be an Oiler for a few more years and I can see Tom Renney going with a solid all around guy like Horcoff to lead this team. He wouldn't be a bad choice at all. He's the logical choice.

But the fan in me screams Gagner. I think it would be a good choice to pick Sam Gagner as the captain this year, right now. The Oilers are a rebuilding team and this is the first year of many (hopefully only two years till this is a playoff team) and why not have him "grow" into this much like Towes is doing n Chicago. I know that they are two complete different payers and I am not comparing them to each other. I was just comparing the ages. I think if you let Sam learn on the job so to speak he will be a great captain for the Oilers. I know a lot of you think I'm nuts for saying that but I really do think Gagner is going to be the leader of this young squad now, and into the future. So why beat around the bush?

As much as I think that's a great idea to pick Sam (I'm sure it won't happen, no need to worry), I'm going all in on Horcoff with the C.

I said on twitter today that Horcoff should get the C and Penner, Whitney and Gagner should wear an A this year. Just a guess. Purely me taking a shot in the dark.

I'm not a fan of the four assistants rotation, I like just two or three A's that are permanent. Maybe I'm just too old school, but I didn't like that four guy rotation. It was 2 home assistants and 2 road assistants.

A few of my tweeps reminded me that I forgot Hemmer when I made my comment.

I had this to say about it. I said, "I did forget Hemsky for an A. But does he really need/deserve it? He's not a leader on the team so why give him the A?" Then I continued with, "I am talking about helping the guy next to you type of leadership. Yes he's a good player and he puts up the points. But he's not "the let me help you leadership kind of guy". Unless he blows my mind this year, I'm ready to move on."

Bruce McCurdy from Copper & Blue replied to me with this about Hemsky, "Maybe Ales needs to feel like he's a leader on this team. I'd give him an A for sure."

My answer to that was, "If giving an A to Hemsky is solely for the purpose of making him feel good, then it's a waste of a letter. It means nothing."

Bruce once again countered with, "No, it's more than making him feel good. It's expectation and responsibility and a vote of confidence all in one."

Damn. I can't argue with that at all. Bruce is right. It is what it is. Hemsky is that kind of player. It doesn't matter how I feel about giving out letters to players that don't really lead a team, he is at this moment, an Edmonton Oiler. And if we want him to try his ass off and play his best, having an A on his jersey might just do that.

So I'm torn. Do you appease Hemsky and sew on another assistant captains letter A on his jersey to make him feel wanted, needed and like he's important to the team?

Or do you not give it to him at all and let the real team leaders lead like Horcoff, Penner, Whitney and Gagner have it with no rotation and take Hemsky for what he is? With no A.

-Written by Smokin' Ray-

Thunder Well Represented at Rookie Tourney / #StkThunder

Thunder Well Represented at Rookie Tourney

09/10/2010 10:49 AM -
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MORE: ECHL.com coverage
MORE: Team-by-team breakdown
MORE: Edmonton Oilers official website coverage
MORE: San Jose Sharks official website coverage

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder will be represented by two players and a staff member at the NHL Young Stars Tournament in Penticton, BC from September 12-16, 2010 at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

The eight-game tournament will feature players from the Calgary Flames, Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks and host team Vancouver Canucks.
Goaltender Bryan Pitton and defenseman Jordan Bendfeld will be suiting up for the Edmonton Oilers.

Pitton has played for Stockton the last two years, going 9-9-3 with a .921 save percentage in 2009-10, and on two occasions was named ECHL Goaltender of the Week. The 22 year old was a fifth round selection (133rd overall) of the Oilers in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Bendfeld also has played for Stockton each of the last two seasons. He appeared in 52 games with the Thunder in 2009-10 notching 10 assists and added five points (1g-4a) in 15 Kelly Cup Playoffs games as the Thunder advanced to the Conference Finals for the first time in team history. The 22 year old was selected by the Oilers in the seventh round (193rd overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Thunder radio play-by-play announcer Mike Benton, who is entering his sixth season with the club, will be serving on the broadcast team for webcast coverage for five games during the tournament, while also contributing with video and written features for the official website of the San Jose Sharks, http://www.sjsharks.com/ .

The Oklahoma City Barons and The Truth

What? I'm not sure what I mean either.

Well I guess the truth is, that it is an interesting time to be a OKC Barons fan right now. This is OKC history in the making and the lucky ones that get to witness it all unfold are very fortunate people. I WISH I COULD BE YOU! **Kind of, but not really. I like Alberta**

With only two guys officially on the roster at this time, it makes getting excited right now, a little harder.

Who's on the team this year asks the average fan? Don't know for sure.

Who's going to be the face of the Barons for the 2010-11 season? Omark? Eberle? Paajarvi? Giroux? Ondrus? Don't know that for sure yet either.

Well relax and enjoy how it all unfolds. Everything is about to start and the ball will really get rolling then. Or the puck will get sliding, either way, the analogy works. ;)

I did write up a post about the team last month and after looking at it again, this should be pretty darn close -- minus a player or two-- to the actual roster. Take a look. Not a bad roster at all if you ask me.

So if that doesn't get you fired up then... well, you will have to wait till training camp starts like the rest of us. Only then will we know for sure who will be with the Barons of Oklahoma City.

IMPORTANT DATES
September 9 Oilers Rookie Camp
September 12 – 15 Prospects Camp in Penticton, BC
September 17 Oilers Training Camp begins
September 27 Barons Training Camp begins
October 2 OKC @ TEX 7 p.m. Preseason Game
October 9 HOU @ OKC 7:05 p.m. Home Opener

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Now that the Barons/Oilers have the Cox Convention Center ready to go, it's almost time to fill those seats. Have you bought your tickets for any of the games yet? No? Well then, go here to buy some. Single seat tickets are now available. Woooo!

The prices are very affordable --$14 is the cheapest and $36 is the most expensive-- and it should be fairly easy for the general fan to go and watch a game and not break the bank. HINT: date night

If you have never been to a game and you don't really understand hockey, no problem. Let us know and we can have Eric or Scott --shhhhh... they don't know this yet-- come and meet you at the game. These guys can explain anything about the Barons or hockey in general and they are pretty nice guys to boot.

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Did you pre-order or want to buy a OKC Barons jersey right now? Well you can't have one just quite yet is what I am told.

For some strange terrible marketing reasons, the jerseys are not quite ready yet to buy. In fact, many Barons fans have pre-purchased the Barons jersey months ago and they still don't have one to wear. We wonder out loud what the hold up is?

Anyone else find it strange that it's September 7th and you still can't buy a Barons jersey?

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What, if anything, is going to happen to Doug Sauter? For many OKC hockey fans that's a burning question. No matter where I go, I see "What is Doug Sauter going to do for the Barons?" It's like the fans want him more than hockey itself. It's on that scary level of obsessiveness.

I had a feeling the other night that he might be the new Play by Play radio guy for the Barons. Could Sauter effectively be a PxP guy? I don't have that answer, but I wouldn't put it past the Barons to make such a bold move. I think it wouldn't matter if he was good or not, the fans want Sauter in some capacity. Is this the job for Sauter?

Remember when I suggested Sauter become ambassador for the OKC Barons? I still stand by that and I wish the Barons would consider it. It's the best suited job for him. Sauter for Ambassador!!!

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Make sure to check out both OilersJambalaya.com and OilFieldHockey.com throughout the season. Both sites together are striving to bring you steady news and opinions involving the Oilers, OKC Barons and the Stockton Thunder. If you ever have questions or comments, feel free to ask us.

-Written by Smokin' Ray-

@JohnnieOil Speaks His Mind About Taylor Hall

Our friend JohnnieOil stopped by tonight and had this to say about Taylor Hall "taking" the #4 from the only NHL Oiler to wear that number, Kevin Lowe;

"JohnnieOil said:

I dunno, in a way I like this and in another I don’t.

I understand the synergy of Lowe giving Hall “his” #4.

Lowe being the first ever Oiler pick, scoring the first goal etc there is a lot of Oiler history with that man.

Regardless of what people may think and say of Lowe now there is no denying that he has a very special place in Oiler history and his jersey should be up in the rafters, without any doubt.

And now we have Hall, our first ever #1 pick, a great talent to be sure but he is unproven in the NHL at this time. So does he deserve to take a local legends number and all that it means in the history of the oilers? I just don’t know but it does show the class and unselfishness of Lowe and his love of the team. He is demonstrating a team first attitude as president as he did when he played and I tip my Oilers hat to him.

No one was more excited when we picked Hall, definitely the right pick in my mind I just hope he lives up to the class and love of team and city that the man before him that wore that #4.

Now drop the puck already!"

It's also posted at his blog. Check it out here.

I'm an emotion kind of fellow and I did get caught up in the Hall hoopla. I love a good story and this has interesting written all over it.

JohnnieOil brings up some great points and I'd have to say, I agree 100%. I personally do hope that Taylor Hall leads himself with class and dignity much like Kevin Lowe did and makes all of Oil Country proud. He's going to be even more under fire now with that digit. Can he handle the Oil Country heat?

*fingers crossed* Hope so.

-Written by Smokin' Ray-