The Wooster Oilers were a junior ice hockey team and member of the United States Premier Hockey League 'Premier' level. The Oilers play home games at the Alice Noble Ice Arena in Wooster, Ohio.

Wooster Oilers
CityWooster, Ohio
LeagueUnited States Premier Hockey League
Founded2006
Home arenaAlice Noble Ice Arena
ColorsNavy, white, gold, and red
Owner(s)Marty Kerr
General managerNone
Head coachNone
Websitehttp://woosteroilers.com
Championships
Regular season titles2009–10 NJHL Knox Cup
2014–15 MnJHL Central Division champions
Playoff championships2010 NJHL International Cup

History

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The franchise started in 2006 as an expansion team in the America East Hockey League (AEHL). After the 2007–08 season the team moved to the United Junior Hockey League (UJHL) for the 2008–09 season along with two other AEHL teams. The Wooster Oilers finished third overall in their first season in the UJHL.

The following season after the UJHL collapsed, the Wooster Oilers, along with many other UJHL franchises, joined the Northern Junior Hockey League. After the 2009–10 season, the Oilers announced they would join the Tier III Great Lakes Junior Hockey League.

The 2012–13 season brought changes again as the Oilers joined the USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MnJHL).[1] The Oilers finished fifth overall in their inaugural season and made it to the semifinals in playoffs.

On December 18, 2014, the United States Premier Hockey League announced that it was adding the Central Division of the MnJHL teams to their new Midwest Division including the Oilers. However, on February 12, 2015, the North American 3 Hockey League announced that its board of governors had approved the sale and relocation of the Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks membership to owners of the Oilers for the 2015–16 season, allowing the Oilers to join the NA3HL.[2] Originally the owners had planned to play two Tier III teams for the 2015–16 season, but by June it was reported that they had dropped their plans for the USPHL team and would only play in the NA3HL.

However, after three seasons in the NA3HL, the Oilers left the league for the USPHL's Premier Division, now a non-sanctioned league, for the 2018–19 season.[3] After a one-season hiatus due to the uncertainty of their home arena possibly closing, the Wooster Oilers returned to the USPHL for the 2020–21 season.[4][5]

Season-by season records

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Season GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA Regular Season Finish Playoffs
America East Hockey League
2006–07 56 32 18 6 0 70 294 224 2nd of 9 Advanced to semifinal (3-team round robin)

Lost 3–4 (OT) vs Harrington Icebergs

2007–08 52 27 18 7 0 61 232 239 2nd of 6 Lost semifinal vs Dover Seawolves
United Junior Hockey League
2008–09 44 18 19 7 0 43 206 226 3rd of 5 Lost semifinals, 1–2 vs Findlay Grrrowl
Northern Junior Hockey League
2009–10 51 43 5 0 3 89 345 161 1st of 6, Knox Cup International Cup, NJHL champions
Great Lakes Junior Hockey League
2010–11 40 19 21 38 162 134 3rd of 5, East Lost first round, 0–2 vs Michigan Ice Dogs
2011–12 42 22 19 1 45 191 176 3rd of 5, East Lost first round, 0–2 vs Michigan Ice Dogs
Minnesota Junior Hockey League
2012–13 50 24 22 4 52 198 218 5th of 8, Great Lakes Won div. quarterfinals vs Fort Wayne Federals
Lost div. semifinals, 0–2 vs Illiana Blackbirds
2013–14 46 21 22 3 45 157 119 6th of 8, Central Won div. quarterfinals vs Central Wisconsin Saints
Lost div. semifinals, 0–2 vs Marquette Royales
2014–15 39 21 16 2 44 178 191 3rd of 6, Central
7th of 14, MnJHL
Won div. quarterfinals, 2–0 vs Tri-City Ice Hawks
Won div. semifinals, 2–0 vs Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings
Lost crossover semifinal, 0–2 vs Dells Ducks
North American 3 Hockey League
2015–16 47 19 21 7 45 144 183 4th of 6, East
23rd of 34, NA3HL
Lost div. semifinals, 0–2 vs Metro Jets
2016–17 47 15 27 5 35 125 172 5th of 6, East
36th of 48, NA3HL
Did not qualify
2017–18 47 21 22 4 46 136 145 5th of 6, East
25th of 42, NA3HL
Did not qualify
United States Premier Hockey League
2018–19 44 16 25 3 35 113 153 5th of 6, Great Lakes
39th of 52, USPHL Premier
Lost qualifier game, 2–3 vs. Metro Jets Development Program
2019–20 Did not participate
2020–21 43 8 33 2 18 111 248 7th of 7, Great Lakes
54th of 62, USPHL Premier
Lost First Round series, 1–2 vs. Pittsburgh Vengeance
2021–22 44 4 39 1 9 68 346 7th of 7, Great Lakes
64th of 64, USPHL Premier
Did not qualify for post season play

References

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  1. ^ "A more indepth look at the Minnesota Junior Hockey League's Great Lakes Division". Junior Hockey News. June 27, 2012.
  2. ^ "NA3HL approves sale and relocation of Cleveland to Wooster, Ohio". NA3HL. February 12, 2015.
  3. ^ "USPHL Announces Premier Division Expansion For the 2018-2019 Season With Six New Teams - Great Lakes Conference". USPHL. United States Premier Hockey League. April 19, 2018.
  4. ^ "Alice Noble Ice Arena will stay open". The Daily Record. December 5, 2019.
  5. ^ "Wooster Oilers Excited To Make Return To USPHL Premier in 2020-21". USPHL. May 11, 2020.
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