Oilers Prospects in Limbo

Both Södertälje SK and Luleå HF have survived.  But only just.

The two Elite Series teams finished 9th and 10th respectively and both avoid a relegation series. Both also miss the playoffs. 

This means that both Oilers properties in the Elite Series, Björn Bjurling and Linus Omark, are done playing hockey for the season.  Bring on the golf clubs!

Luleå finished tied for 10th with Mora IK  but thanks to having a small goal differential (2 less goals against), came out on top. Oilers prospect, Linus Omark scored in Saturday's decisive 4-2 victory over Timrå.  He finishes the year 3rd in team scoringwith 11G+26A and 46 minutes in penalties.  Most notably, the diminutive left winger was one of only 4 Luleå players to appear in all 55 games.  He did not receive a lot of prime ice-time, but his point totals speak well of how he made use of what he received.

Bjurling had a surprising break-out/come-back year.  He finished 2nd in Elite Series save%, 8th in GAA, and appeared in 30 of Södertälje's games. SSK, as a team was rarely brilliant, but as I outlined in an earlier blog entry, the duo of Bjurling and Enroth often saved Södertälje's metophoric butt.

Tingsryd IF played well down the stretch in division 1 (Allettan Södra) and William Quist got solid playing time.  He scored 12pts (6G+6A) and had a mere 6 penalty minutes in 12 games (post-Christmas); a positive development after what was a bizarre and unproductive autumn. Clearly he will need a higher level of competition next year to further his development. 

Finally, Västerås IK (featuring former Oilers prospect Kalle Olsson - drafted #147  in 2003) is playing a best-of-three against the Växjö Lakers (featuring former University of Alberta Golden Bear Kevin Marsh).   I have not found the line-up from the annual Golden Bears vs. Oilers Rookies game in 2003, though thought this may very well be a sort of rematch.  Time to go wander the internet...