Wichita Thunder are back as ECHL affiliate
By Nation Dan
5 years agoThe Edmonton Oilers announced today that the Wichita Thunder will return next year as the organization’s ECHL affiliate.
This will make the second consecutive year the Oilers will be affiliated with the Thunder. With the agreement the Thunder agree to have players who are under contract in the NHL with the Oilers, the AHL with the Condors and then ECHL signed players that the Thunder oversee themselves.
“We’re excited to be extending our affiliation agreement with the Edmonton Oilers this coming season,” stated Head Coach Malcolm Cameron. “I enjoyed working with the Oilers prospects that were assigned to us last year. I’m very excited about the new crop of Oilers prospects turning pro and look forward in helping their development this upcoming season. We were able to see a number of Oilers prospects in a Thunder uniform and hope that we were able to play an important role in their growth and development.”
In the Oilers organization, continuity with it’s minor league affiliations has been a problem in the past. The previous ECHL affiliate was the Norfolk Admirals. The ECHL incarnation of the Admirals was created when the OEG moved the ECHL Bakersfield Condors to Norfolk to replace the newly departed AHL Norfolk Admirals who went to San Diego, as the Gulls. These moves were all made to allow for OEG to move the Oklahoma City Barons from OKC to Bakersfield and start as the new Bakersfield Condors. The Oilers ended the agreement with the Admirals in 2017 and moved onto the Wichita Thunder organization.
WICHITA THUNDER (ECHL) – Regular Season
- G Shane Starrett 38gp, 3.01 .912 (did not play this week)
- G Dylan Wells 1gp, 16.39 .571 (did not play this week)
- G Nick Ellis 2gp, 2.75 .925 (called up to the AHL)
- RC Kyle Platzer 20gp, 8-14-22 (in the AHL)
- F Lane Bauer 63gp, 9-28-37 (did not play this week)
- R Zack O’Brien 12gp, 5-7-12 (in the AHL)
- LC Travis Ewanyk 60gp, 13-16-29 (did not play this week)
- RC Chad Butcher 53gp, 9-24-33 (did not play this week)
- L Evan Polei 32gp, 8-9-17 (in the AHL)
- R Greg Chase 17gp, 7-10-17 (Traded to Florida)
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