VETERAN DEFENSEMAN JOINS JUNIOR OILERS
The Tulsa Junior Oilers have signed veteran defenseman Sam Harristhal for the 2024-25 season
TULSA, Okla. – The Tulsa Junior Oilers, proud member of the NA3HL and partner of the Marriott Tulsa Southern Hills and Ruffin Event Center, announced Tuesday the signing of Sam Harristhal for the 2024-25 season.
Harristhal, 19, begins his third year of juniors after splitting time with the Sheridan Hawks of the NA3HL, Casper Roughnecks of the USPHL Premiere and St. Louis Junior Blues of the NA3HL last season.
“I think having the experience that he has is huge,” said head coach Zac Desjardins. “He’s been around a little bit, so he knows what’s going on with junior hockey. He knows how to take care of his body— how he needs to prepare for games mentally. I think that’s going to help some of our younger players realize this is what we have to do to be ready.”
In the 2022-23 season, the Springfield, Missouri native appeared in 28 games with the Chicago Crush of the USPHL Premiere, logging two assists.
The 6-foot-1 defenseman appeared in four NA3HL games between the Hawks and Jr. Blues, and appeared in 26 games with the Roughnecks registering three assists.
“You look at his size, he’s a big player and he’s physical,” said Desjardins. “I believe he’s going to be physical. I think he’s going to be somebody we can rely on, on the back end, just to keep it simple and add a little more physical presence out there on the ice.”
Harristhal joins Sam Cardona, Reese Blasdell, Austin Tyler, Jackson Pick and Kolin Krizan as signed players who bring in junior experience.
Game action begins on Friday, Sept. 20 against the Austin Ice Bats. Puck drop from Ice & Field at The Crossover in Cedar Park, Texas is set for 8 p.m. All games can be streamed on NATV.
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Jr. Oilers single-game and season tickets are on sale now! Visit https://www.junioroilers.com/tickets/ for more information.
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