Connecticut Oilers
| Connecticut Oilers | |
|---|---|
| City | Norwalk, Connecticut |
| League | Eastern Hockey League |
| Division | Premier - South Division |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Home arena | SoNo Icehouse |
| Colors | Green, Black, Gray, and White |
| Owner(s) |
Ryan Hughes Jacques de Saint Phalle |
| General manager | Eric Lind |
| Head coach | Eric Lind |
| Franchise history | |
| 1996–2012 | Capital District Selects |
| 2012–present | Connecticut Oilers |
| Championships | |
| Playoff championships | 2014–15 |
The Connecticut Oilers are a Junior Tier III ice hockey team from Norwalk, Connecticut playing in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL).
History
The franchise was initially founded as the Capital District Selects playing out of Troy, New York. After several seasons as an independent midget team, the CD Selects joined the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) in 1998 as a part-time member, joining full-time in 1999. The team was owned and coached by former RPI coach Jim Salfi. Since the 2002–03 season, the Selects played in the Eastern Junior Hockey League's "South" Division, until the Boston Junior Shamrocks were sold and moved to Philadelphia which moved the Selects to the "North" Division.
In 2012 the team was sold and relocated to Norwalk, Connecticut and renamed the Connecticut Oilers. During the summer of 2013 there was a strong effort to re-organize Tier III junior hockey in north eastern United States resulting in the Oilers moving to the Atlantic Junior Hockey League. On June 6, 2013 the AJHL became the EHL.
The Oilers would have their best season in 2014–15 and would win the EHL playoffs and league championship. Winning the league championship would normally qualify the team for the 2015 USA Hockey Tier III National Championships, however due to a clerical error with a pair of the Oilers' import player's paperwork, the runner-up Northern Cyclones represented the EHL.[1]
Season-by-season records
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital District Selects | ||||||||||
| 1999–00 | 38 | 21 | 14 | 3 | — | 45 | 171 | 133 | 4th of 11, EJHL | |
| 2000–01 | no data | 7th EJHL | Lost Quarterfinal game, 2-4 vs. Boston Jr. Bruins[2] | |||||||
| 2001–02 | 38 | 19 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 43 | 157 | 138 | 4th of 6, South 7th of 12, EJHL | Lost Quarterfinal game, 1-8 vs. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs[3] |
| 2002–03 | 38 | 20 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 141 | 109 | 4th of 6, South 6th of 12, EJHL | Lost Quarterfinals vs. Boston Jr. Bruins[4] |
| 2003–04 | 38 | 25 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 52 | 158 | 130 | 1st of 6, South 3rd of 12, EJHL | Won Quarterfinals vs. Boston Harbor Wolves Lost Semifinal game, 5-6 vs. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs[5] |
| 2004–05 | 51 | 20 | 24 | 6 | 1 | 47 | 173 | 202 | 4th of 7, South 8th of 13, EJHL | Won Play-in game, 5-3 vs. New England Junior Huskies Lost Quarterfinals, 0-2 vs. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs[6] |
| 2005–06 | 45 | 16 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 36 | 147 | 184 | 7th of 7, South 12th of 14, EJHL | Did not qualify |
| 2006–07 | 45 | 16 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 37 | 136 | 163 | 5th of 7, South 11th of 14, EJHL | Did not qualify |
| 2007–08 | 45 | 19 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 146 | 149 | 6th of 7, South 11th of 14, EJHL | Did not qualify |
| 2008–09 | 45 | 8 | 31 | 5 | 1 | 22 | 133 | 234 | 7th of 7, South 13th of 14, EJHL | Did not qualify |
| 2009–10 | 45 | 9 | 31 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 126 | 228 | 6th of 7, North 13th of 14, EJHL | Did not qualify |
| 2010–11 | 45 | 6 | 36 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 117 | 251 | 7th of 7, North 14th of 14, EJHL | Did not qualify |
| 2011–12 | 45 | 1 | 39 | — | 5 | 7 | 103 | 283 | 7th of 7, North 14th of 14, EJHL | Did not qualify |
| Connecticut Oilers | ||||||||||
| 2012–13 | 45 | 12 | 28 | — | 5 | 29 | 120 | 179 | 6th of 7, South 12th of 14, EJHL | Lost First Round, 0-2 vs. Valley Jr. Warriors[7] |
| 2013–14 | 44 | 26 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 57 | 170 | 121 | 1st of 6, Central 4th of 17, EHL | Lost First Round, 1-2 vs. Valley Jr. Warriors |
| 2014–15 | 44 | 31 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 64 | 183 | 103 | 1st of 5, Central 4th of 19, EHL | Won First Round, 2-0 vs. Boston Junior Rangers Won Quarterfinals, 2-0 vs.Walpole Express Won Semifinals, 2-0 vs. Philadelphia Little Flyers Won Finals, 3-2 vs. Northern Cyclones League Champions |
Notable alumni
- Dave Evans - Clarkson University (Carolina Hurricanes 1999 Draft Pick)
- Ben Guite - University of Maine (Montreal Canadiens 1997Draft Pick)
- Jay Leach - Providence College (NHL player)
- David Leggio - Clarkson University (TPS Turku SM-liiga player)
- Nick Petrecki - Boston College (San Jose Sharks 2007 1st Round Draft Pick)
- Matthias Trattnig - University of Maine (Chicago Blackhawks 1998 Draft Pick)
- Curtis Valentine - Bowling Green University (Vancouver Canucks 1998 Draft Pick)
- Shawn Weller - Clarkson University (Ottawa Senators 2004 Draft Pick)
- Brian Robbins - UMass - Lowell
Coaching Staff
- Eric Lind - GM & Head Coach (2012-present)
- Steven Brown - Assistant Coach (2013-present)
- Ryan Hull - Goaltending Coach (2012-present)
References
- ↑ "DAILY DISH: Eastern Hockey League's Switch-a-roo-ski - Junior Hockey News". Junior Hockey News. March 27, 2015.
- ↑ http://www.ushr.com/archives/mastergate/secured/news/ejhlbox01.htm
- ↑ http://www.ushr.com/news/20020328
- ↑ http://www.ushr.com/news/20030328
- ↑ http://www.ushr.com/news/20040328
- ↑ http://www.ushr.com/news/20050314/824?label=EJHL-Playoffs,-Updated-Daily
- ↑ http://www.thehour.com/sports/junior-hockey----oilers-ousted-from-ejhl-playoffs/article_f57b295e-8d70-51ff-aeff-1dc2011c1c89.html