Tulsa Oilers (1964–1984)

The Tulsa Oilers were a professional ice hockey team. The Oilers played 20 seasons in the Central Hockey League (CHL), originally called the Central Professional Hockey League (CPHL) until 1968, from 1964 to 1984, capturing the Adams Cup three times. Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the team played their home games at the Tulsa Assembly Center until the 1983–84 season when they moved to Expo Square Pavilion.[1] The team was also locally referred to as the "Ice Oilers" to differentiate from the Tulsa Oilers minor league baseball team.[2]

Tulsa Oilers
CityTulsa, Oklahoma
LeagueCentral Hockey League
Operated1964–1984
Home arenaTulsa Assembly Center
Expo Square Pavilion
ColorsBlue and white
Owner(s)Maple Leaf Gardens Limited
AffiliatesToronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers

History

The Central Professional Hockey League began operations with the 1963–64 season, with the Tulsa Oilers joining that league the following season. Maple Leaf Gardens Limited (MLGL) owned the team, and operated it as a developmental team for the Toronto Maple Leafs.[3] In the spring of 1973 MLGL announced that they would relocate the team to become the Oklahoma City Blazers, with Tulsa getting a replacement independent team.[4][5] The team suspended its operations on February 16, 1984, when its owners went bankrupt and the Tulsa Oilers went into receivership. Other teams in the league paid to keep the Oilers in operation so as not to unbalance the schedule, but the Oilers played only road games for final six weeks of 1983–84 season.[6] Despite this difficulty, the team (under coach Tom Webster) went on to win the league championship before the CHL disbanded following the end of the season.[7]

The Oilers won the Adams Cup as the CHL champions in 1968, 1976, and 1984.

Notable players

References
  1. http://www.hockeydb.com/stte/tulsa-oilers-8580.html
  2. "Bill Myer Flett". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  3. "Nothing Exceeds Like Success". The Globe and Mail. 1964-11-13.
  4. "Leafs switch Tuisa team in CHL to Oklahoma City". The Globe and Mail. 1973-04-20.
  5. "Leafs shift farm". Toronto Star. 1973-04-21.
  6. "1980 draft pick-Bob Scurfield". hockeydraftcentral.com. 2008-03-21. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
  7. Cory Erdman (2008-03-20). "The Tulsa Oilers were true road Warriors". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
  8. 1983-84 Tulsa Oilers [CHL]
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