September 12, 2011 7:54 AM
Note: This is the third in an 11-part series of oponnent previews leading to the start of the regular season on Oct. 7. Keep checking back for a new team every few days.
Previously: Abbotsford Heat | Houston Aeros
Head Coach: Todd Nelson
Record with Oklahoma City: 40-29-2-9
2010-11 Season
| |
POS |
NAME |
H |
W |
DOB |
NAT |
| |
G |
Yann Danis |
6-0 |
187 |
6/21/81 |
CAN |
| |
G |
David LeNeveu |
6-1 |
196 |
5/23/83 |
CAN |
| |
G |
Olivier Roy |
6-0 |
168 |
7/12/91 |
CAN |
| |
D |
Taylor Fedun |
6-0 |
190 |
6/4/88 |
CAN |
| |
D |
Bryan Helmer |
6-1 |
209 |
7/15/72 |
CAN |
| |
D |
Johan Motin |
6-2 |
220 |
10/10/89 |
SWE |
| |
D |
Alex Plante |
6-5 |
225 |
5/9/89 |
CAN |
| |
D |
Corey Potter |
6-4 |
190 |
1/5/84 |
USA |
| |
D |
Colten Teubert |
6-3 |
194 |
3/8/90 |
CAN |
| |
RW |
Cameron Abney |
6-4 |
192 |
5/23/91 |
CAN |
| |
RW |
Mark Arcobello |
5-8 |
165 |
8/18/88 |
USA |
| |
LW |
Philippe Cornet |
5-11 |
176 |
3/28/90 |
CAN |
| |
LW |
Josh Green |
6-3 |
225 |
11/16/77 |
CAN |
| |
LW |
Curtis Hamilton |
6-3 |
203 |
12/4/91 |
USA |
| |
LW |
Teemu Hartikainen |
6-1 |
209 |
5/3/90 |
FIN |
| |
C |
Tanner House |
6-1 |
194 |
4/27/86 |
CAN |
| |
RW |
Ryan Keller |
5-10 |
185 |
1/6/84 |
CAN |
| |
C |
Milan Kytnar |
6-0 |
183 |
5/19/89 |
SVK |
| |
C |
Anton Lander |
6-0 |
185 |
4/24/91 |
SWE |
| |
C |
Andrew Lord |
6-3 |
201 |
2/25/85 |
CAN |
| |
RW |
Ryan O'Marra |
6-2 |
220 |
6/9/87 |
CAN |
| |
LW |
Lennart Petrell |
6-3 |
209 |
4/13/84 |
FIN |
| |
C |
Tyler Pitlick |
6-2 |
194 |
11/1/91 |
USA |
| |
LW |
Toni Rajala |
5-10 |
163 |
3/29/91 |
FIN |
| |
LW |
Hunter Tremblay |
5-10 |
174 |
1/15/86 |
CAN |
| |
RW |
Antti Tyrvainen |
5-11 |
198 |
4/3/89 |
FIN |
| |
C |
Chris VandeVelde |
6-2 |
205 |
3/15/87 |
USA |
The Oklahoma City Barons finished their inaugural season posting 91 points and earning a berth in the Calder Cup Playoffs. The club boasted a roster with two of the top-10 point scores in the AHL, and a top-15 point scorer among all AHL rookies. However, an early playoff exit and frenetic offseason left several question marks on the Barons’ 2011-12 roster.
Many returning skaters saw limited ice time with the Barons last year. Whether skating with other AHL teams or signing with Oklahoma City near the conclusion of last season, a bulk of the 2011-12 roster skated in less than a third of the Baron’s regular-season games. Among key offseason departures was Baron leading point scorer, second among all AHL skaters, Alexandre Giroux. The forward posted 78 points (32g, 46a) in 70 games with Oklahoma City last season, but has since signed with the Springfield Falcons. In his absence, second-year winger Teemu Hartikainen, will have to perform similar to his freshman season, when he posted 17 goals and 25 assists (42 points) in 66 games. Also in the mix is Milan Kytnar, a left wing who tallied 29 points (13g, 16a) to rank second among Barons rookies in scoring last season. The sophomore duo will receive support from blueliner Alex Plante, a defenseman who finished the season with a plus-11 rating, good for second on the Barons roster. Plante collected 138 penalty minutes last season, and at 6-foot-3, 225-pounds, can serve as an enforcer on the ice.
In free agency, the Barons acquired several experienced leaders in former Senators captain Ryan Keller and former Crunch alternate captain Josh Green. Keller, who had a productive regular season (51 points), exploded during the postseason to lead the Senators to a Calder Cup title. Keller notched 25 points (10g, 15a) in 23 playoff games, including two five-game point streaks. For the Crunch, Green ranked second among Syracuse skaters in assists (31) and power-play goals (7). The left winger is a veteran at both the AHL and NHL levels, skating in 335 and 334 games respectively. In net, the Barons added former Hamilton Bulldog Yann Danis, who saw action in 43 NHL games with New Jersey and the New York Islanders last season, compiling a 13-19-4 record with a 2.16 goals-against average. Although the Barons lost several of their top scorers from last season’s playoff team, the club signed key veterans to provide point production and leadership, and ultimately a deeper run in the 2011-12 Calder Cup Playoffs.
Roster Notes
Returning Leaders:
• (LW) Teemu Hartikainen - scored 42 points (17g, 25a) in 66 games. Led all Baron rookies in points. Added an assists in six playoff games.
• (D) Alex Plante - scored 17 points (2g, 15a) in 73 games. Led Barons in penalty minutes. Finished with third best rating among Barons skaters (+11). 12 PIM in 5 playoff games.
Key Losses:
• (LW) Alexandre Giroux - scored 78 points (32g, 46a) in 70 games. Led all Baron skaters (2nd in AHL) in points. Ranked second among OKC skaters in PPG.
• (D) Kevin Montgomery - scored 26 points (4g, 22a) in 67 games. Led all Baron defensemen in scoring. Registered a plus-6 rating. Skated in two playoff games.
• (G) Martin Gerber - posted a 20-16-4 record with 2.60 GAA and .911 SV%. Totaled 2,472 minutes in 42 games. 1.79 GAA in six playoff games.
Key Additions:
• (RW) Ryan Keller - scored 51 points (32g, 19a) in 71 games with BNG. Scored 25 points (10g, 15a) in 23 playoff games. Won Calder Cup with BNG.
• (W) Josh Green - scored 46 points (15g, 31a) in 69 points with SYR. Skated in 334 career NHL Games, scoring 74 points (35g, 39a).
• (G) Yann Danis - played in 43 NHL games, compiling a 13-19-4 record with a 2.16 GAA. Earned two shutouts with NYI.
History
| |
OKLAHOMA CITY |
| |
Established |
2010-11 |
| |
All-Time record |
40-29-0-2-9 |
| |
2010-11 Record |
40-29-2-9 (5th West) |
| |
2010-11 Playoffs |
Lost in Western Conference Quarterfinals (4-2 vs. Hamilton) |
| |
Calder Cup championships |
0 |
| |
Division championships |
0 |
| |
Conference championships |
0 |
| |
Regular season points championships |
0 |
| |
|
|
| |
VS. CHARLOTTE |
| |
2010-11 |
N/A |
| |
All-time |
N/A |
The Oklahoma City Barons are currently the top AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers. The club is the relocation of the Oilers’ inactive AHL franchise, the Edmonton Road Runners.
The franchise originally began as an expansion during the 1968-69 season. In 1969, the franchise joined the American Hockey League as the Montreal Voyageurs. The Voyageurs posted a 100-point season in its first year, but followed with a 68-point, first-round playoff loss season.
From 1971-1984, the team skated as the Nova Scotia Voyageurs in Halifax, NS. The club made the postseason in all 13 of its seasons, capturing the Calder Cup in 1972, and two consecutive titles from 1975-1977. The team again relocated in 1984, as the Sherbrooke Canadiens. During their first season in Sherbrooke, the franchise added another Calder Cup title. In 1990, keeping the Canadiens name, the franchise moved to Fredericton of the AHL. The team remained in Fredericton for nine seasons, advancing to the championship only once.
Before ceasing operations in 2005, the franchise relocated three more times in the AHL; Quebec Citadelles (1999-2002), Toronto Roadrunners (2003-04) and Edmonton Roadrunners (2004-05). Although the club only posted one losing season during this span, it was never able to win another championship. The Edmonton Roadrunners ceased operations in 2005, and remained dormant until the 2010 relocation to Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City and Charlotte will face each other eight times in 2011-12, with each team hosting four games in its home arena. Charlotte did not play Oklahoma City in its inaugural season.
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