Oklahoma City Barons Training Camp Update

Originally Published: Sep 29, 2010 1:20 PM CDT

Layna Dewell

Oklahoma Sports Writer

Oklahoma City—The Oklahoma City Barons opened Training camp Monday and have not wasted any time getting down to business on the ice.

Nearly 30 players reported to training camp and are a mix of players already assigned to the Barons by Edmonton, along with players who have been invited to training camp as free agents. The players have gone through numerous drills and scrimmages each day as they draw closer and closer to the start of the season.

The Barons will take the ice in the first ever Blue/White Intersquad game Sept. 30 at 7:05 p.m. at the Cox Convention Center. The game is free and open to the public.

The game will mark several firsts for the franchise. Thursday will not only be the first chance to see the Barons in game action, but also the first time fans will have the chance to see some of the new features at the Cox Convention Center.

The Barons first preseason game is Oct. 2 against the Texas Stars at the Cedar Park Center in Cedar Park, TX. Play-by-play of the game by announcer Jim Byers can be heard on the Barons’ Flagship station, 96.1 FM KXY.

The Edmonton Oilers, parent club of the Oklahoma City Barons, trimmed their roster by six playerson Monday. On Wednesday, they assigned five of those players to Oklahoma City.

Edmonton assigned forward Teemu Hartikainen as well as defensemen Johan Motin and Jake Taylor to Oklahoma City. The Oilers also placed forwards Brad Moran and Greg Stewart on waivers for the purpose of assignment to Oklahoma City and released Jared Aulin from his tryout agreement. In addition, the Barons signed defenseman Joe Piskula to a tryout agreement.

“Each of these players bolster our camp roster,” said Barons head coach Todd Nelson.

According to OKCBarons.com, including Monday’s new additions to the roster, the number of players sent to Oklahoma City by the Oilers is 13. Moran, Taylor, Motin and Stewart each played in one preseason game with the Oilers, while Hartikainen played in two.

“All were active in the Oilers camp and are quality players. Our continued goal with all of our players is to get them prepared to play at the NHL,” said Nelson.

Taylor was one of the first two players signed by the Barons. The 6-4, 225-pounder from Rochester, Minn. has played all but 15 of his 316 games as a pro in the American Hockey League. He has played the previous two seasons with the Oilers’ AHL affiliate.

Piskula has played each of the last three seasons with the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL. The 6-3, 214-pound native of Antigo, Wisc. has scored 30 points (2-28-30) in 194 career AHL games. Prior to his stint with the Monarchs, the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, Piskula played three full seasons with the University of Wisconsin.