The Blazers continued their tradition of holding practice at Braum's Ice Rink in downtown OKC.  The fans are invited to attend, and it's always fun to see the guys having a good time.  It's not all fun and games, though...the team seperates into three groups for a scrimmage, with the winning team getting a trophy and some bragging rights amongst their teammates.  :)

http://sports.webshots.com/album/556363208wcZeGN

Oklahoma City started out strong in this game, taking a 2-0 lead to the locker room after the first period.  The Mudbugs, however, were not content to roll over and quit...a goal from Ty Hennes put the 'Bugs on the board at 4:14, and Forbes MacPherson scored on a rare penalty shot less than three minutes later.  I'm sure many Blazers fans were afraid the team was going to give the game away, but they came back late in the third with a goal by Dallas Flaman to make it 3-2.  The MudBugs pulled goalie John Decaro for the extra attacker, but AJ MacLean managed an empty netter to finish off the night.

 This was one of those games that could very easily have gone the other way.  There were several near-misses, funky bounces, and "holy crap!" saves...the Blazers were fortunate to pull out the win.

Click the pic of Chris Brassard (probably my favourite MudBug), declining to be photographed.

Another Turnpike rivalry game has come and gone, and with the usual drama one has come to expect in a Blazer-Oiler lovefest.  After trailing 2-0, the Blazers managed to tie it up at 4:24 in the second.  Oiler Mike Wiggins scored his second goal of the night at 15:41 of the second, making it 3-2.  Late in the third, it appeared that the Blazers had tied it up yet again, but the goal was waived off by referee Paul Mariconda.  There was no question the puck went into the net...the question was whether Oiler Jaroslav Cesky knocked the goal off before or after the puck was shot.  Since instant replay cannot be used in making such decisions, the referee's call stood.  The Blazers pulled Centomo in the last minute of play, but were unable to get the game tying goal.  Tulsa added an empty netter to make the final score 4 to 2.

 As tempting as it can be to blame such a loss on the ref, it was a combination of factors.  Tulsa played to win, and their new goalie Jason Montgomery stood on his head several times.  The Blazers just couldn't find the back of the net, despite outshooting the Oilers 46 to 23.  All the Blazers can do at this point is chalk it up as a loss, move on, and get revenge in Tulsa next Friday.  ;)

Click the pic of Rattray in the penalty box to see pix from the game.  It's so weird seeing him back in an Oiler uni.

Definitely one of the most impressive Lubbock teams I've seen.  Former Blazer Chris Dashney has put together a good squad.  The Cotton Kings led 3-0 for the first period and a half, then OKC rallied and tied it up about halfway through the third.  Overtime period was scoreless.  After allowing the first two Lubbock shooters to score, Sebastien Centomo turned away everything else that was fired at him, and Peter Robertson got the game winning goal against Kyle Stanton.

Lubbock defenseman Marc Bianchi got 2, 5, and 10 for an altercation with Graham Dearle, and spent much of the third in the penalty box.  Like so many other fighters, he was an amusing penalty box guest and even took the time to "interact" with some fans.

Click the pic of Bianchi and his teammate Chris Barth to see shots from the game.

Tonight was "Military Appreciation Night" at the Blazers game, with various branches of the military represented.  The Blazers themselves wore special Armed Forces jerseys that were auctioned off after the game.

There was a scary moment midway through the first period...Wichita goaltender Sebastien Laplante caught a puck in the wire cage of his mask.   Thankfully, the puck lodged about halfway through the wire cage instead of going all the way through, but it still caused some damage.  Laplante was reported to have received stitches under the eye and was kept in the hospital overnight for observation.  I hate to see a player get injured, no matter what colour sweater they wear.  Hopefully Sebastien will have a quick and complete recovery.

Click the pic of the National Guardsmen to see shots from the game.