Odessa Jackalopes (19-17-1-1, 40pts) vs. Oklahoma Warriors (31-6-0-1, 63pts)
at Blazers Ice Centre in Oklahoma City, OK
Time: Friday 7:15 p.m. CDT | Saturday 7:15 p.m. CDT
Broadcast: HockeyTV
What You Need to Know:
All-Time Record: 0-6
Season Series: 0-6
Leading Scorers:
ODA: 37pts, Mansfield (15G, 22A)
OKC: 47pts, Delgreco (15G, 32A)
No Place Like Home:
The Warriors are the only team in the NAHL that have yet to lose at home. In fact, no NAHL team has gone an entire season without losing a game at home since as far back as records go (2004-05). Including this weekend, Oklahoma has 16 home games remaining this season. The Warriors are currently the top team in the South and the NAHL. They enter this weekend riding an 11-game win streak. The longest losing streak they have had this season was two when they were swept by Lone Star on Dec. 2-3. Oklahoma has scored the most goals out of any team in the league this season (173) and leads in goal differential (91). They are tied with the Brahmas for the fewest goals allowed in the NAHL (82). The Warriors have produced the most goals in the first period (54) and second period (67).
Series Conclusion:
This weekend Odessa will wrap up their season series with Oklahoma. It will be the first team the Jacks conclude a season series with this year. Oklahoma has scored 31 goals and allowed six against Odessa this season. The Warriors have also shut out the Jackalopes in two of their six meetings. Odessa has not scored more than two goals in any game against Oklahoma this season. Daniel Duris has been in the net for four of the six wins for Oklahoma.
Coin Flip:
The last five losses for Odessa have been decided by one goal. The Jackalopes are currently on the outside looking in as they are still eight points out of a playoff spot. The Warriors have not lost a game since turning the calendar to 2023. Odessa is 8-4-1-1 in one-goal games and 4-4 in games decided by two goals. After this weekend Odessa will have 20 games remaining and eight will be against teams that are from third to fifth place.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Jackalopes (F: #19 – Dayne Hoyord)
The Scandinavia, WI native is in his final season of junior eligibility. The 20-year-old is fourth on the team in points (27) and second in assists (21). The Army commit is currently on a four-game goal streak which is tied for his career high. The 5’10”/195lb. right-handed forward has spent his entire NAHL career with Odessa (145GP, 34G, 46A). The assistant captain has eight points in his last four games (4G, 4A). Hoyord has played in two Top Prospects Tournaments (4GP, 1G, 1A). He is also third on the team in plus/minus with 11.
Warriors (F: #10 – Joey Delgreco)
The 19-year-old is in his second season in the NAHL. Last year, the Grand Rapids, MN native played two games for the Warriors (1G, 3A). The 5’10”/165lb. right-handed forward also spent last season playing 28 games (25G, 43A) for Grand Rapids High (USHS-MN). The Augustana University commit currently leads his team in points (47) and assists (32). He is T-4th in points in the NAHL. Delgreco is currently on a career-high ten-game point streak (7G, 13A). He also leads in power-play assists with 13. In 2019, Delgreco was drafted #44 by the Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL). Delgreco has played in all six games against Odessa this season and had registered 11 points (3G, 8A).
Photo credit: Danne Braden
