Noah Southard // The Sooners celebrate a goal on Nov. 17, 2019

Thanksgiving came early for Jackson Giammona. 

Midland’s pair of Colton Jones and Luke Sanko had just committed tripping minors, and the Sooners found themselves with a 5-on-3 powerplay. With a man-advantage unit that went 0% in the game previous (@Arizona), you got the feel that the Sooners must convert on this situation; a scoreless game at that.

Luc Whyte found Giammona’s stick tape for a one-timer that ripped past Midland’s Dakota McDonald for a PPG, making it 1-0. The third period on Saturday began 1-0.

Paolo De Sousa’s seeing-eye-shot doubled the lead to 2-0, and the teams traded goals from there to a 4-2 victory for #11 Oklahoma (11-3-0), (7-3-0 WCHL).

On Oklahoma’s first Sunday matinee action of the season, Mike Walsh – regardless of who was credited with the goal; some say it was Charlie Wilson – threw a puck at the net and it found the back of it. Cam Brown tapped in a feed from Luc Whyte (secondary assist to Walsh here) to make it 2-0. 

The Sooners got into some penalty trouble early in the middle frame, and Luke Sanko made it 2-1 with a PPG of his own.

Piggy-backing on the first sentence of this article, our Jackson Giammona yet again – this time with a wrister – capitalized on a 5-on-3 powerplay to make it 3-1 in period 2. Midland would answer for their final goal of the series (Luc Whyte’s ENG sealed it for another 4-2 decision).

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Midland’s Luke Sanko established himself as a sort of instigating-scoring type forward in this series. He racked up 6 PIMS in minors and a misconduct on Sunday. He of course had that PPG. I say this because Oklahoma travels to Fremont, Neb. on Jan. 17-18, 2020. This could be one to watch as the Warriors will be the home team.

The Alabama Frozen Tide (1-12-1), (Independent) have had a rough go at it this season. However, the major story is going to be Clayton Brown’s return to Blazers, ironically while still wearing crimson.

Linda Donnelly// Cam and Clayton Brown skate against the Rams on 11/18/18

Our former #18 – now wearing #11 for Alabama – was an offseason transfer to Tuscaloosa, AL. We wish him the best.

Alabama’s schedule has been eerily similar to Oklahoma’s in terms of quality. Both teams have their ranked games (‘Bama has played #6 Liberty and #19 PITT; Oklahoma with #5 Arizona and #15 Arizona State). Both teams have played Missouri State, which is always a tough opponent.

When I think about a major offseason loss however to the Tide’s roster, I start with Pierre Ouellette. Per Alabama’s website, he recently signed a “full pro contract with the Knoxville Ice Bears of the Southern Professional Hockey League.” He was their highest scoring defenseman with 25 in 33, and he made my fake fantasy team from last November.

Jack Rooney tallied 27 points in 33GP, but Taylor Joseph (30 in 31) and Nick Messina (33 in 33) are both still on the Tide. Messina had the shootout-winning goal on Sept. 21, 2018 when Oklahoma visited Tuscaloosa.

Garrett Kingsbury recorded a .916 in 16GP last season, and he does not appear to be a Tide anymore. However, they have retained the services of Patrick Ostermann in the cage.

Oklahoma fell one spot in the rankings in favor of #9 Ohio and #10 Jamestown. All parties involved took care of business this past weekend, but one would have to think the rankings system is expecting the home team to cruise. This is a bit of splitting hairs, though, as #8 UCO looms on Oklahoma’s horizon anyway.

PROJECTED STARTERS:

Friday, Nov. 22 (Alabama)

Babb vs. Ostermann

Saturday, Nov. 23 (Alabama)

Albrecht vs. Neilsen

Cover photo is credited to Noah Southard. You can follow him here.

Game photo of the Browns facing CSU is credited to Linda Donnelly. You can follow her here.

Thanks for reading.