Odessa Jackalopes (7-8-0-1, 15pts) vs. Oklahoma Warriors (12-2-0-1, 25pts)
at Blazers Ice Center in Oklahoma City, OK
Time: Thursday 7:15 p.m. CDT | Friday 7:15 p.m. CDT
Broadcast: (Away) HockeyTV
What You Need to Know:
All-Time Record: 0-0
Season Series: 0-0
Leading Scorers:
ODA: 13pts, Goode (10G, 3A)
OKC: 19pts, Jones (8G, 11A)
Red Hot:
The Oklahoma City Warriors have had a phenomenal start to their inaugural season. They are currently in second place in the South and have the most goals in the division (62). They lead the NAHL in goals-per-game with 4.13. They average exactly two goals-against per game which is the third-best in the league. Oklahoma has given up 30 goals this season which puts their goal differential at +32 which is the best in the South. Also, they have registered five or more goals in a third of their games. The Warriors have goals from 14 different skaters so far this season.
Special Teams:
Odessa is ranked last in powerplay (7.4%) and 24th in penalty kill (72.2%). Whereas, Oklahoma has the eighth-best powerplay (21.5%) and the league’s best penalty kill (88.7%). The Warriors have 14 power-play goals which are tied for the 10th most across the NAHL. The Jacks have four goals while on the powerplay which is the fewest in the league. Oklahoma has allowed six power-play goals which are the lowest among all 29 NAHL teams. In comparison, Odessa has given up 15 power-play goals which is the eighth most.
Battle Tested:
The Jacks will face the Warriors for four-straight games starting tomorrow. It is the most-consecutive games the Jacks will face any opponent this season. This will also be the final road trip of 2022 for Odessa as they will start their nine-game homestand on Thanksgiving weekend. While Oklahoma is trying to fight with Lone Star for the top spot in the South, the Jacks are only four points behind Amarillo, who hold the final playoff spot. So, picking up a point in any fashion during these four games against Oklahoma is crucial. Odessa will also play Oklahoma on their final weekend before Christmas break (Dec. 16-17) meaning they will have faced the Warriors six times in the span of a month.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Jackalopes (F: #19 – Dayne Hoyord)
The Army commit is currently fourth on the team in points with 11. His nine assists are a team-high. The Scandinavia, WI native is in his final year of junior eligibility. The 20-year-old has spent his entire NAHL career with the Odessa Jackalopes. His rookie season was in 2020-21 and he was able to produce 19 points (7G, 12A) in 52 games. Last season, the 5’10”/195lb. right-handed forward scored 34 points (21G, 13A) in 58 games. Hoyord went on a seven-game point streak (7A) this season setting a career-high. He has scored a point in 11 of his 16 games this season. Hoyord has also finished every year of his junior career in the top-five in scoring.
Warriors (F: #13 – Hunter Jones)
The Andover, MN native leads his team in goals (8) and assists (11). The 20-year-old is in his final year of junior eligibility. Jones started his NAHL career in 2020-21 playing four games for the Bismarck Bobcats. He finished out his rookie season in Wichita Falls scoring 26 points (9G, 17A) in 46 games. The following season, the 5’10”/190lb. left-handed forward played 17 games (1A) in the USHL for the Waterloo Black Hawks after being drafted #140 overall by them. Jones also spent 29 games with Wichita Falls that season and registered 14 points (5G, 9A). The American International College (AIC) commit also leads the Warriors in short-handed goals with two and in shooting percentage at 26.7%. Jones tallied 10 points (4G, 6A) in four games at the NAHL Showcase which earned him NAHL Forward of the Month – September and South Division Star of the Week – September 12-18. While with Wichita Falls last season, Jones had four points (2G, 2A) in six games against Odessa.
Photo credit: Danne Braden
