NEW LOOK BARONS
By Lowetide
11 years ago
Ryan Martindale and the current OKC Barons are finding their way after a wild and crazy first half of this AHL season. The NHL players are where they belong–a higher league–and the players showing well in OKC may join them someday soon.
(All Barons photos by Rob Ferguson. All rights reserved).
Jonathan Cheechoo has had an enormous impact since arriving and the veteran of both the NHL and AHL is among the leading scorers on the team since the calendar turned to 2013:
FORWARDS
- Mark Arcobello 14, 5-6-11 -11
- Toni Rajala 10, 4-4-8 even
- Josh Green 14, 3-5-8 -7
- Jonathan Cheechoo 5, 1-6-7 +3
- Phil Cornet 7, 4-2-6 +2
- Ryan Martindale 10, 3-3-6 E
- Anton Lander 12, 1-3-4 -9
- Kristians Pelss 9, 0-3-3 +1
- Antti Tyrvainen 5, 1-1-2 E
- Tyler Pitlick 8, 0-2-2 -7
- Dane Byers 14, 1-1-2 -4
- Tanner House 11, 1-0-1 -2
- Chris VandeVelde 12, 1-0-1 -4
- Erick Lizon 8, 0-0-0 E
- Curtis Hamilton 9, 0-0-0 -4
Arcobello posted impressive offensive numbers but struggled for long periods during the month plus that we’re looking at here (Jan plus one Feb game). Rajala has been splendid since coming back from Stockton and Green is recovering from a slow, injury riddled start. Cheechoo was an outstanding signing based on early returns, and two more prospects (Cornet and Martindale) are showing signs of life offensively since the gifted kids flew North. Pelss is not delivering above .5 points-per-game but the club clearly believes in him as a 2-way player.
Note: Chris VandeVelde was recalled by the Oilers today, he’ll be in the lineup tomorrow for the Oilers in Detroit.
DEFENSE
- Taylor Fedun 13, 0-4-4 -5
- Brett Clark 5, 0-3-3 -1
- Martin Marincni 12, 1-2-3 +4
- Nathan Deck 14, 1-1-2 -8
- Alex Plante 5, 0-1-1 +1
- Andrew Hotham 8, 0-1-1 +4
- Colten Teubert 12, 1-0-1 -6
Barons signing of Brett Clark (in photo with Mark Arcobello) and more recently Randy Jones (who hasn’t played yet) has changed the look of the defense for 2013. Taylor Fedun continues to play well and Martin Marincin’s numbers improved after a long slide in December. Andrew Hotham has been a solid addition as well, but prospect Colten Teubert has struggled in these weeks.
GOAL
- Olivier Roy 10, 2.71 .898
- Yann Danis 5, 5.13 .819
- Niko Hovinen 1, 3.00 .903
- Tyler Bunz 1, 10.56 .667
Roy had the best run through these weeks, while the starter (Danis) struggled through what was clearly a period of transition. Hovinen (in photo) played well in that blowout game last week and Bunz got 28 chaotic minutes in goal on January 25. Oliver Roy is having the best season for an Oilers goalie prospect in the entire system, but it’s a weak year for the group overall.
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
The Barons are back in action tonight (against Grand Rapids) and the roster has turned over a great deal over the last month. Based on recent weeks, we should expect the big names to be Jonathan Cheechoo, Mark Arcobello, Toni Rajala, Josh Green and Phil Cornet up front; Taylor Fedun, Brett Clark, Martin Marincin and newcomer Randy Jones on defense; and Yann Danis and Olivier Roy in net.
It has been a season of constant change in OKC this season. I’m sure coach Todd Nelson will welcome roster stability whenever it arrives.
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