Schultz named All-AHL first team
Barons defenseman Justin Schultz, who played less than half a season in the American Hockey League before the NHL lockout ended, was named first-team All-AHL on Thursday.
Although he hasn’t played in the AHL since Jan. 5, joining the Edmonton Oilers after the NHL lockout ended, Schultz scored 48 points, including 18 goals in 34 games with the Barons.
Schultz still leads all AHL defenseman in scoring despite playing with Edmonton the past three months. He’s tied for third among AHL rookies.
The former Wisconsin University star has scored 20 points in 34 games with Edmonton. Schultz is sixth among NHL rookies in scoring, easily the top scoring NHL rookie defenseman.
This is the third consecutive season the Barons have had a player named to the AHL first team. Forward Alex Giroux made it in 2010-11 and Yann Danis was the first team goaltender last season.
Barons sign Stretch
The Oklahoma City Barons have signed C.J. Stretch to a player tryout contract. This is Stretch’s second stint with the Barons.
Stretch, who has spent most of the season with the Ontario Reign in the ECHL, scored six points in 10 games with the Barons.
Stretch scored 62 points in 60 games with Ontario, including five goals in Ontario’s four-game sweep of the Utah Grizzlies in the first round of the ECHL Kelly Cup playoffs.
Before turning pro, Stretch played five seasons with the Camloops Blazers in the Western Hockey League, scoring 248 points in 341 games in four full seasons.
Schultz named to AHL All-Rookie team
Defenseman Justin Schultz played less than half a season in the American Hockey League before the NHL lockout but played so well in 34 games with the Oklahoma City Barons that he’s still among the top scorers which is why he was named to the AHL All-Rookie team on Wednesday.
A free agent who signed with the Edmonton Oilers last summer after three years at Wisconsin University, Schultz scored 48 points, including 18 goals for the Barons. Schultz remarkably still leads all AHL defenseman in scoring despite playing with Edmonton the past three months. He’s tied for third among all AHL rookies.
It’s highly likely Schultz also will be named to the NHL All-Rookie team.
In 34 games with the Edmonton Oilers Schultz has scored 20 points. Schultz is sixth among NHL rookies in scoring, easily the top scoring rookie defenseman.
When Schultz left Oklahoma City after the NHL lockout ended he was second in the AHL in scoring behind Barons teammate Jordan Eberle.
Barons sign defenseman
The Oklahoma City Barons have signed defenseman Joey Leach to a tryout contract general manager Bill Scott announced on Thursday.
Originally drafted by the Calgary Flames in the third round of the 2010 NHL draft, Leach has played the last five seasons with Kootenay in the Western Hockey League. In those five seasons Leach has scored 134 points in 274 games.
This past season Leach was the Ice’s top scoring defenseman (43 points).
Byers traded for defenseman
The Edmonton Oilers traded forward to the Washington Capitals in exchange for defenseman Garrett Stafford. Both players were on Triple-A rosters.
In his 10th season, Stafford, 33, will join the Barons this weekend. He’s played 665 pro games the majority in the AHL with seven teams. He’s scored 366 points and compiled 508 AHL penalty minutes.
Byers scored 10 points in 58 games with the Barons but is best known for his physical presence (144 penalty minutes).
Stafford’s pro debut was nine years ago when he was named second team All AHL with Cleveland. He scored 46 points that season but has appeared in only seven NHL games.
Byers, 27, has appeared in 14 NHL games but like Stafford has spent the bulk of his pro career in the AHL with six different teams.
Fedun can relate to Ware’s injury
Oklahoma City Barons defenseman Taylor Fedun, who experienced a gruesome leg injury, can relate to Louisville’s Kevin Ware’s injury in an Elite Eight game Sunday but will not watch video replays.
Fedun, an undrafted rookie defenseman, was attempting to make Edmonton’s roster last season but suffered a horrific broken leg in the Oilers’ final preseason game that sidelined him the entire season.
“I heard a lot of people talking about it (Ware’s injury),” Fedun said. “I’ve got enough of the details that I think I’m going to stay away from watching it. I’ve lived through something similar.”
Ware jumped to try and block Duke’s Tyler Thornton’s 3-point shot. When he landed his right leg snapped midway between his ankle and knee, the bone skewing almost at a right angle.
Fedun can relate.
In his first training camp the relatively unknown defenseman turned heads before he suffered the type of injury that can derail a career. Racing Minnesota’s Eric Nystrom to the end line, Fedun reached the puck first to force icing but Nystrom’s stick got caught between Fedun’s skates.
Slamming into the end boards, Fedun suffered a shattered femur. His bone shattered into several pieces. Orthopedic surgeons placed a titanium rod and four screws in the largest bone in the body. It was six months before Fedun could even skate at a public rink.
“It was the type of injury I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy,” Fedun said. “(Rehabilitation) is not something you can do half-heartedly. He’ll have to commit fully to it if he wants to get back to where he was. I really feel for him to be so close to the national championship.”
Growing up in Edmonton Fedun’s dream was to play for the hometown Oilers. Fedun, who played four years at Princeton, was thankful he wasn’t drafted. It allowed him to sign with the hometown team he rooted for as a kid.
After undergoing a rigorous rehabilitation process Fedun has appeared in 59 games with the Barons. He’s scored 24 points, including 18 assists.
“I’ve definitely learned a lot this year,” Fedun said. “It’s really hard to say if I’m where I was before. I’m a different person, a different player. I’ve grown a lot, especially mentally. Physically I don’t feel my leg is holding me back.
“Foot-speed is something that can always be improved. But I don’t think it’s something that’s hindered my play. It’s allowed me to move forward. I’m really thankful for the opportunity I’ve been given here. This season has been really good for me.”
RedHawks extend deal with “The Game”
The Oklahoma City RedHawks and Clear Channel Media have announced an extension through the 2015 season, all games being aired on “The Game,” 1340 KGHM-AM.
“This is something we’ve been working toward since last summer,” said RedHawks president Michael Byrnes. “We’ve had nothing but a great experience working with Clear Channel. This partnership has been valuable for both sides, and we look forward to continue to improve upon it.”
For the third straight season all 144 RedHawks games will air on “The Game” and 1340thegame.com beginning 30 minutes before first pitch with “RedHawks On Deck,” concluding with “the post game report. Alex Freedman returns for a second season to call all the action.
In addition, there will be some new broadcast elements beginning in 2013. Select games of the Majestic Roofing High School Baseball Series at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark will be broadcast and streamed through 1340thegame.com.
An original three-year agreement was set to expire after the 2013 season.
The RedHawks open the season Thursday night in Memphis. Their home opener is April 12, also against Memphis.
Lander named AHL Player of the Week
Barons center Anton Lander, who scored a franchise record six points in Oklahoma City’s 7-3 win at Rockford Saturday night, has been named the American Hockey League Player of the Week.
Lander, who was recalled to the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday, scored eight points for the week. He also scored a goal in a shootout loss at Chicago and notched an assist in a win at Peoria.
“It’s fun when you see a player have a big night,” said Barons coach Todd Nelson. “Over the years we’ve had a lot of players have big games. To set the (franchise) record says a lot.”
Lander, 21, started the season with Edmonton following the lockout but was sidelined for six weeks following a broken foot. The six-point outing also was an American Hockey League season high.
“It was one of those nights where everything they touched went in,” Nelson said of the six-point outing. “That line was really clicking. Six points is pretty remarkable. His first goal got us going when we were down 2-0. We just got rolling from there.”
Lander was a second-round pick, the 40th player selected, in 2009.In 45 games with the Barons this season Lander has scored 19 points. He had one assist in four games with Edmonton before being sidelined by the broken foot.
Lander recalled to Edmonton
Barons center Anton Lander, who scored six points in Oklahoma City’s 7-3 win at Rockford Saturday night, has been recalled by the Edmonton Oilers.
Lander, who began the season with the Oilers after the NHL lockout ended, got off to a slow start and then suffered a broken foot blocking a shot Feb. 6 against Dallas. Lander has one assist in four games with Edmonton.
After being sidelined six weeks, Lander returned a couple of weeks ago with the Barons. He’s scored 19 points, including eight goals in 45 games with Oklahoma City. Scoring, though, won’t be Lander’s job with Edmonton. For now he’s insurance and could be a healthy scratch.
There is speculation the Oilers might make a trade which could move fourth line center Ryan Smyth to the third line, possibly opening a roster spot for Lander.
Early this season with the Barons, during the lockout, Lander was on a line known as the Nordic Line with Magnus Paajarvi and Teemu Hartikainen, who recently was sent to Oklahoma City.
Barons involved in business scentific project
Prodigal LLC, the operating entity for the Oklahoma City Barons, is showcasing creative juices at the debut of Science Museum Oklahoma’s Out of the Box program on Saturday night.
Science Museum Oklahoma’s Out of the Box program challenges area businesses to construct a work of creativity that celebrates the inherent scientific and aesthetic quality of the world around us by using miscellaneous supplies provided by SMO. Each participant’s demonstration must perform at least one of the following tasks: stack two objects, turn on a light, zip a zipper, draw a geometric shape or play a tune.
Prodigal is joined in this fun endeavor by 10 other local businesses including: Frankfurt/Short/Bruza, Buy for Less / Uptown Grocery, Red Earth Systems, @Link Wifi, Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, Kimray Inc., SAIC, Hom by Warhall, Funnel Design Group and The Boeing Company.
The companies will unveil their creations at Science Museum Oklahoma Saturday at 6 p.m. The event is open to the public.
The Barons are in the midst of a four-game road trip with a game Wednesday night at Chicago and road games this weekend at Peoria (Friday) and Rockford (Saturday).
