Not every pro hockey player comes through a big-name program. Ian Amsbaugh took one of the more unusual routes onto the Tulsa Oilers roster: from a small town near the Canadian border to a Manitoba junior champion, then to NCAA Division III and finally to the ECHL. This profile covers who Ian Amsbaugh is, how his path unfolded and what the Oilers are asking of him in his first full pro season.
Quick facts: Amsbaugh is a 23-year-old forward from Bottineau, North Dakota, who wears No. 16 for Tulsa. He scored 108 points in 87 games at Adrian College, then signed with Tulsa late in 2025-26 and recorded a goal and an assist in eight ECHL games. The Oilers re-signed him for 2026-27 on Aug. 17, 2026, according to the team’s announcement.
Ian Amsbaugh at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Forward, shoots left |
| Listed size | 6-foot-1, 190 pounds (Tulsa Oilers roster) |
| Hometown | Bottineau, North Dakota |
| Junior hockey | Steinbach Pistons (MJHL), 2022-23 |
| College | Adrian College (NCAA Division III) |
| College totals | 87 GP, 33 G, 75 A, 108 PTS, +50 |
| Pro debut | Tulsa Oilers, late 2025-26: 8 GP, 1 G, 1 A, +5 |
From Bottineau to a Junior Championship
Bottineau is a small city in northern North Dakota, close to the Canadian border. Amsbaugh first played there for Dakota College at Bottineau in the ACHA, recording 57 points in 31 games in 2021-22, according to the Steinbach Pistons.
He then moved north to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for his 20-year-old season. Amsbaugh made the Steinbach Pistons out of training camp and produced 21 goals and 58 points in 58 games. More importantly, he added 13 playoff points as Steinbach won the Turnbull Cup, the MJHL championship, according to the league. The Pistons went on to the Centennial Cup, Canada’s national junior A tournament, where he scored five points in four games. The team also noted that he played every regular-season and playoff game that year and described him as a natural leader in the dressing room.
Ian Amsbaugh’s Three Productive Seasons at Adrian College
In July 2023, Amsbaugh committed to Adrian College in Michigan, a strong NCAA Division III program. Over three seasons with the Bulldogs, he scored 33 goals and 75 assists for 108 points in 87 games, with a plus-50 rating, according to the Oilers.
Those numbers show a player who created offense consistently. In fact, his assist totals suggest he has been more of a playmaker than a pure finisher, which is exactly what Tulsa’s coaches want to change, as explained below.
A First Taste of Pro Hockey
Amsbaugh signed with Tulsa after his college season ended and played eight ECHL games in the spring of 2026. His first professional goal came on April 3, 2026, at Rapid City: an unassisted breakaway 5:32 into the game that gave Tulsa a 2-0 lead. He finished his short stint with a goal, an assist and a plus-5 rating.
Late-season signings like this are common in the ECHL. They let a club evaluate a player against pro competition before deciding whether to bring him back. In Amsbaugh’s case, head coach Rob Murray clearly liked what he saw.
The “Shoot-First” Challenge
When the Oilers re-signed Amsbaugh, Murray explained the message he gave him over the summer: “I told him he needs to have a shoot-first mentality.” Murray added that Amsbaugh agreed, and that the team was excited to see what he could bring.
That challenge makes sense. A forward who passes up shots lets defenders cheat toward passing lanes. By contrast, one who shoots often forces goalies to make saves, creates rebounds and opens space for linemates. For Ian Amsbaugh, the measure of success this season will be how often he looks for his own shot, not just his total points.
Where Ian Amsbaugh Fits in 2026-27
This season, Tulsa’s forward group includes several rookies, including Max Itagaki and Kyle Kukkonen, who both scored on opening night. Our 2026-27 roster guide explains how the newcomers fit with returning veterans, and our Max Itagaki profile covers another first-year player.
For Amsbaugh, regular minutes will likely depend on two things: producing at even strength and earning trust away from the puck. Meanwhile, ECHL rosters change constantly because of injuries and AHL call-ups, as explained in our guide to the Anaheim Ducks affiliation. That often creates opportunities for young players to move up the lineup during the season.
The Bottom Line
Ian Amsbaugh brings a winner’s background from Steinbach, steady college production and an early taste of ECHL success. The question for his rookie season is whether he can turn that playmaking into goals. We will update this profile as the season provides a larger sample. To track how he and the team are doing, see our Tulsa Oilers results report.
Published Oct. 25, 2026. Facts and statistics come from the Tulsa Oilers, the Steinbach Pistons and the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
