Tulsa bags a big deer against Laredo 6-1.

Costello scores two and an assist to help Oilers win 3rd straight.

TULSA, OK-- It’s January in Oklahoma, and the remnants of two inches of snow from the season’s first winter storm greeted the fans of the Tulsa Oilers hockey club as they returned to action in the amazing mothership to face the Laredo Bucks.

The Oilers came into the game after two wins last weekend that sent a statement throughout the Berry Conference as they defeated the Arizona Sundogs and the Bossier Shreveport Mudbugs by a combined score of 16-6, defeating the Bugs 7-3 last Saturday and the Sundogs 9-3. Far and away those two games were the most solid performance by the demons of Denver Avenue this season. 

While Tulsa is thriving their opponent tonight has been struggling. Once a force in the southern quadrant of the Central Hockey League, the Laredo Bucks are at this point of the season sitting at 13-16-1, in sole possession of the last place of the Berry Conference with 32 points. Their leading scorer is forward Daniel Koger, who has 19 goals and 11 assists for 32 points. This is the seventh meeting between Tulsa and Laredo and the Bucks lead the all-time series 5-1.

Bucks forward Jeff Bes got the first goal for Laredo at 5:43 of the first period, assisted by Daniel Koger and Jeff Hazelwood. Then Evan Kotsopoulos took a lead pass from Tyler Fleck that was deflected by Braden Walls and punched it past Bucks goalie Torrie Jung at 7:16 enabling Tulsa to bring the game to a 1-1 tie. Chad Costello and Jack Combs combined to put the Oilers ahead 2-1 with a goal at 17:40.

Gary Steffes further justified his bid for CHL Rookie of the Year with a goal at 3:47 followed by another Tulsa goal at the 8 minute mark by Tom Dignard, assisted by Chad Costello and Gary Steffes. Brennan Barker put one in at 11:51 of the 3rd assisted by Marty Standish, and Chad Costello followed that one up with his second of the night at 17:31 assisted by Evan Kotsopolous and Jack Combs to close out the Oilers third dominating win in a row at 6-1.

The victory takes the Oilers to 20-18-1, the first time that Tulsa has been two games over .500 since the beginning of the season in October, and they swept their last three opponents in decisive fashion. The win also came in front of some 6,641 fans in the BOK Center, a season high so far.

Chad Costello, who garnered the game’s first star, had two goals and an assist for 3 points, and Gary Steffes has a goal and an assist. Costello’s goals also pushed him to the top of the CHL goal scorers race with 25, replacing his line mate Jack Combs who has 24 goals on the season. Combs wasn’t without a point tonight, as he assisted on Costello’s goal that closed out the game.

The Oilers hope to continue their impressive run of luck in North Richland Hills, Texas when they take on the Texas Brahmas in a key Berry Conference matchup tomorrow night. Tulsa is in a remarkable three-way tie with the Brahmas and the Odessa Jackalopes for third place in the conference. The Oilers will return to the mothership next Tuesday night to take on the Colorado Eagles at 7:05pm.

Tickets for all Oilers games are available at the BOK Box Office, Tickets.com, Tulsa area Reasor’s stores, and by calling 1-866-7BOK-CTR (866-725-5287). More information is available by calling the Oilers office at 918-632-PUCK (7825).