Tulsa Oilers Announce Agreement With Colorado Avalanche

The Oilers become just the second team to become affiliated with an NHL franchise.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:55 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa Oilers Announce Agreement With Colorado Avalanche

Originally Published: Sep 2, 2010 6:39 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma – The Tulsa Oilers announced Thursday that they have become affiliated with the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL.

This is the first time the Oilers have been an NHL affiliate since the return of the Central Hockey League in 1992. The agreement will associate the Oilers with both the Avalanche and the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League.

“This is a great step forward for our hockey team,” head coach Bruce Ramsay said. “Last season we worked with Colorado and Lake Erie on an informal basis and we got goalie Trevor Cann as a result of the relationship and he played great for us. Making this a formal affiliation will only strengthen that bond and will help us overall throughout the hockey operations.”

The Oilers are now the second CHL to have a formal NHL affiliation for next season. They join the Odessa Jackalopes, who are aligned with the New York Islanders and the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

“We are excited to begin this new affiliation with the Tulsa Oilers,” said David Oliver, the Avalanche's Director of Player Development and General Manager of the Lake Erie Monsters. “We are confident this organization in Tulsa will provide the right environment for our players in the Central Hockey League. Their leadership group and staff have the necessary resources to support the development of our prospects.”

The Oilers will play 33 home games at the BOK Center next season, starting on Oct. 15 against the Wichita Thunder. Season tickets are now available by calling the Oilers’ ticket office at 918-632-7825.