Thank you AI on Google for explaining what icing is in hockey:
In ice hockey, icing is when a player shoots, bats, kicks, or deflects the puck from their side of the red center line and across the opposing team’s goal line without scoring a goal. The puck must completely cross the edge closer to the end boards. The purpose of the icing rule is to prevent the defending team from delaying the game by sending the puck to the other side of the rink. If icing is called, the other team must clear the puck before play can continue. If the puck is not cleared, the faceoff will take place in the defensive zone of the team that committed the infraction. Icing will not be called if the team shooting the puck is below the numerical strength of the opposing team at the instant the puck is shot.
Basically. ^
Why did I just define icing for you?
Well. I for one feel like the puck flung one way or another from one end of the rink to the other with no good reasoning for doing so. The puck has to come back home anyway, right? BRING IT HOME.
In my last Oil Spill post, I regaled you of how we ended 2024 and how we started 2025 with the immediate trade of Kylor Wall. Here we are again with me telling you of yet another trade the second week of the year.
On January 6th, the same day I let you know of the last surprising trade, we were blindsided by another trade. This time, Kishaun Gervais was traded to Adirondack Thunder (I had to look up for probably the millionth time where this even was because I can’t seem to remember it’s NY). I hate that he specifically came back and wanted to play in Tulsa. Like for real. It was a whole thing.
In dramatic fashion, I just can’t handle this much in one month, let alone in a matter of a couple of weeks.
In other newsworthy happenings, we had another full weekend of games. Friday night we had a home game against the Fort Wayne Komets (why they want to throw a K in there when comets clearly works just as well, is beyond my comprehension) and it was a great game, one of which I did not go to in person because of the possibility of road conditions being slick on the way home. I listened online through the Mixlr app and up until the last 6 minutes of the game, I should say it was all great. We were leading the Komets, 2-0. With less then 6 minutes left in the game, they broke through and scored a goal. Okay. Not the end of the world. We got this. We made it the whole game without anything.
I was so wrong.
I’d like to blame my grandma though because she said that the Komets would probably score again and then they did. Stop saying stuff like that, grandma.
Yep. They scored. Tied it up right at the end of regulation, forcing an unexpected overtime. Have I said lately how unnecessary overtime is? Why do this to me? I feel personally affronted. Overtime is a toss up, historically, in many years of watching my team, OT just doesn’t work out a lot. It has this year I think more… but again, completely unnecessary when you’re leading the whole game.
We lost. I was already at home, so I didn’t have to endure a sad drive home.
Don’t be sad, be glad, because you still got a point for the standings and this wasn’t a division team. <<< me trying to be positive. 🙂
To make this weekend even more interesting, Friday and Saturday games were a rebranding of the Tulsa Oilers to the “Route 66 Blue Whales” and I must say, Friday was not a whale of a good time in the end. If you don’t know what the Blue Whale is all about, I recommend Google because it’s a popular landmark. If you’re in the area traveling along the ole route, check it out!!
Day two of the Route 66 Blue Whales included a lot more action than was anticipated by everyone, I’m sure. The first period was where most of the action took place – more than the whole game really. It was simply wild.
The first period scoring started early on in front of a packed house (ECHL 24-25 season attendance record of 14,302) with our captain scoring 4 minutes into the game. A few minutes later, the Komets tied up the game with a goal of their own. To end the period, we scored two more times to take the lead.
All while this is going on, the people were crazy. A guy sitting close to the ice (we sit at the top of the section) was causing a disturbance (vulgar language amongst other things). I thought it would be diffused simply enough, or they’d just eject him peacefully. Multiple officers talked to him kindly and gave him way more chances than most would. The guy continued to be rowdy and irrational. The cops went in to cuff him and put him under arrest, but he started fighting them. The crowd stood up and people started filming. The guy was slammed down onto the seats by officers, the guy still resisting. Ushers told people to back up and the officers were able to get him up the stairs to the top while the crowd cheered. The game continued on after a short delay because it did cause a pretty big distraction for everyone. This was during the first period! He no doubt received a night behind bars for public intoxication, resisting and trespassing.
Our usher let us know there were even more crazies that had to be dealt with around the arena. With all that, we have to applaud the officers present for keeping their cool and being professional at their jobs. That would be so difficult.
The second period was part one of our downfall. The penalties started coming and they didn’t stop coming. We got the short end of the stick there with the officiating crew. 5 penalties on Tulsa were called during the middle frame and the Fort Wayne Komets scored twice to tie the game.
The third was marked by a few more penalties for both teams, more of the unsportsmanlike variety. The Komets won in regulation with two even-strength goals forcing a final score of 5-3.
We departed with sadness. As we left, I was thinking this was the only two times we play Fort Wayne this season since they’re outside of our division, but we actually play them in Fort Wayne later on in the season one more time. I’ll be hoping for some redemption.
Sunday morning, I woke up sick and not feeling good all day, so I ended up missing the game in person, but I was able to listen online again as the Tulsa Oilers faced off against the Allen Americans.
The first period score ended much like the previous night’s with a 3-1 lead for the good guys, just a slightly different way – Oilers scored 3 goals before they’re answered by the Americans.
In typical Tulsa Oilers second period fashion… they allowed 3 more goals by Allen unanswered by us. We entered the third period with a one goal deficit.
So, there we were. Last leg of the game with a few minutes left, losing hope with every passing, scoreless minute. Then by some chance by God Himself… we were granted a penalty shot (where instead of a penalty being assigned via the sin bin, the victimized team gets a chance to score in a one-on-one opportunity). The lucky buddy was our newbie, Easton Brodzinski who, coincidentally, used to play for Allen Americans! This was even better because he scored on them!! Just like that, we’re back in this. We headed into overtime with this miraculous turn of events.
Just over 2 minutes into overtime, smooth passing gave Josh Nelson the winning goal! So all’s well that ends well, right? I guess so 🙂
Right now, the Tulsa Oilers sit in 4th place in the division (a playoff spot at least), 7th in the conference and 13th in the league. 42 points hold us in between 3rd place KC Mavericks (who had a rough weekend against the losing Utah Grizzlies and dropped two spots in the standings!) and 5th place Idaho Steelheads. Our record is 19-12-4-0.
Thank you for stopping by! I hope you have a great Tuesday!
Not Your Season: Summer's Blog 