n their 15 year existence in the revitalized Central Hockey League, the Tulsa Oilers have never had a reigning league Most Valuable Player on their team…until now.
The Oilers have acquired 2006-07 CHL scoring champ and MVP Jeff Christian from the Youngstown SteelHounds. The 6-foot-2, 210 pound left wing scored 38 goals and had 78 assists for 116 points last season in 61 games. He bettered teammate Chris Richards by 10 points in the scoring race, in spite of playing one less game than Richards. In two seasons in Youngstown Christian amassed 223 points (55 goals and 52 assists in 2005-06).
“The direction we want to go is we’ve got a player with NHL experience for our hockey team,†Oilers head coach Butch Kaebel said. “This is one of the biggest trades in franchise history.†In exchange for Christian, the Oilers send defenseman Kurtis Dulle, center Bryan LaChapelle, right wing Mike Wiggins, the CHL rights to defenseman Terry Virtue and future considerations to the SteelHounds. Virtue didn’t play for the Oilers last season, as his rights were recently acquired form Austin to complete an earlier trade.
“I like what is going on with the team here, and with my wife’s (Dorie) father living in Broken Arrow, Tulsa is a perfect place for me to be,†Christian said. “It’s a great family situation and combined with everything going on with the team, the new rink and all, this is just a perfect fit.â€
It wasn’t just points that Christian led the league in last season. His 78 assists were also tops as was his plus/minus rating of +45. He also won the league’s Three Star award with 83 points. Christian had the league’s longest point streak collecting 40 points in 19 straight games between November 24 and January 11th. Inside of that streak, was the league’s longest assist streak, as he notched 15 assists in 10 straight games from November 25th to December 21st. He also tied for the league lead with seven shootout goals. He also tied for the most points in a game with seven assists in a 9-1 win over Rocky Mountain on February 1 (Richards also had seven points on four goals and three assists that game).
The 36-year-old (he turns 37 on July 30) from Burlington, Ontario, was the 23rd player selected overall in the 1988 NHL entry draft when the New Jersey Devils drafted him in the second round. His NHL totals are two goals and two assists for four points and 17 penalty minutes in 18 NHL games, split between New Jersey, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Phoenix Coyotes.
His career also includes significant playing time in the American Hockey League, and the defunct International Hockey League. He won the John Cullen award in the IHL with the Houston Aeros for key contributions to his team while overcoming injury, illness, or other personal setbacks.
Christian also has the distinction of having scored the winning goal for the Northern Conference in each of the last two CHL all-star games.
Being a cripple sucks. The knee is starting too hurt more often than not. Before it locked up and was painful, but it definitely wasn’t this painful, this often. Now the pain is becoming a nightly issue. I’m going to see Dr. Wonderful next week. Til next time, same bitch, different day.
