FAN FAVORITE STANDISH RETURNING TO OILERS

TULSA, OK – The Tulsa Oilers are pleased to announce the signing of veteran forward Marty Standish for the upcoming 2012-13 season.  Standish will be entering his fourth year with the Oilers and his fourteenth season as a professional.

Last season Standish chipped in six goals and tied for second on team with 30 assists.  The 5’7” 160-pound center anchored the Oilers penalty kill and consistently shut down the opposition’s top line.  Since joining the Oilers in 2009, Standish has been a reliable presence in the lineup, missing only 16 games over the last three seasons.  A leader in the locker room and a favorite among faithful Oilers fans, the 34-year old Standish still feels the itch to continue his career.

“I keep waiting for it to go away but it doesn’t,” laughed Standish.  “It’s always a tough decision because I’m getting older but it’s hard to give up something I’ve been doing my whole life.  I still love it and I still think I can help this team.”

“Marty is a consummate leader and he’s always been one of the hardest working players on our team,” said Oilers Head Coach Bruce Ramsay.  “He’s one of the best penalty killers in our league, he’s a great faceoff guy, he’s just a great teammate and he understands his role.”

That role has changed for Standish since his days with the Oklahoma City Blazers.  In 2000-01, Standish burst onto the CHL scene with 87 points (43 goals, 44 assists) in 63 games and helped the Blazers win a championship.  These days, the Kelvington, Saskatchewan native isn’t expected to put the puck in the net but knows he still plays a vital part in the Oilers success.

“I know I’m more of a defensive guy now,” said Standish, who has suited up for 824 pro games.  “It may not always be appreciated by the fans but I know it’s appreciated by my coach and my teammates.  As time goes on, that’s what happens to all players, you have to adapt your game.”

The 2011-12 campaign ended in disappointment for the Oilers as they finished just five points out of the final playoff spot in the Berry Conference.  Standish, along with fellow veterans Tyler Fleck, Gio Flamminio, and Michel Beausoleil, is hungry to make one more run at a CHL title before he’s satisfied with hanging up the skates.

“There’s a lot of motivation for me and the older guys on the team going into this season,” said Standish.  “There’s definitely something we want to prove and for me, it’d be the icing on the cake to my career to go through another run with those guys.”

Standish will be one of many current Oilers participating in Saturday’s fourth annual Alumni Game at 7 p.m. at the Oilers Ice Center.  Tickets for the Alumni Game are sale now at the Oilers office (9128 E. 46th St. Tulsa, OK 74145).  Prices are $10 for season tickets holders, $15 for non-season ticket holders, and $20 for all fans if purchased the day of the game.