Seventy-five seasons. That is how many times a hockey team called the Oilers has taken the ice for Tulsa, and the 2026-27 campaign — the club is calling it its Diamond Jubilee — opens Saturday, October 17, at the BOK Center against the Allen Americans. Puck drop is 7:05 p.m., and everyone through the doors gets a 75th anniversary hat.
The anniversary is the headline, but it is not the only story. This schedule is built differently from anything the Oilers have played in recent years, the roster blends returning veterans with new faces, and the Mountain Division has a new member. Here is what to know before the first faceoff.
2026-27 at a glance
- League: ECHL, Western Conference, Mountain Division
- Affiliations: Anaheim Ducks (NHL) and San Diego Gulls (AHL)
- Head coach: Rob Murray, entering his 10th season in Tulsa
- Home opener: Sat., Oct. 17 vs. Allen, 7:05 p.m., BOK Center
- Regular season: 72 games; the ECHL regular season ends April 11, 2027
A schedule dominated by Wichita
If you only circle one opponent on the calendar, make it the Wichita Thunder. Tulsa and Wichita meet 14 times this season — one more game than the two clubs played over the previous two seasons combined. The rivalry starts early: Tulsa’s first road game is in Wichita on October 23, and the Halloween matinee in Wichita on October 31 is already the third meeting of a five-game run between the clubs.
It is the 35th straight season the two teams have shared a schedule, a streak that dates back to the Oilers’ rebirth in 1992-93. No rivalry in franchise history comes close. If you are new to it, our deep dive into the Oilers–Thunder rivalry explains why these games feel different.
How the opponents break down
The Oilers spend most of the season inside the Mountain Division, with a few notable trips outside it:
| Opponent | Games | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita Thunder | 14 | Longest rivalry in team history |
| Kansas City Mavericks | 10 | Defending Mountain Division and Brabham Cup champions |
| Allen Americans | 9 | Tulsa’s most frequent opponent the past three seasons |
| Idaho Steelheads | 9 | Perennial Mountain Division power |
| Tahoe Knight Monsters | 9 | Long trips, big points |
| Rapid City Rush | 6 | Three home, three away |
| New Mexico Goatheads | 6 | Expansion team in its first season |
| Worcester Railers | 3 | Rare Eastern Conference visitor |
| Wheeling Nailers | 2 | Road games in late January |
| Savannah Ghost Pirates | 2 | First-ever meetings |
Dates worth circling
- Tue., Oct. 27 — Kid’s Day (10:35 a.m.): the annual school-day morning game against Allen, usually one of the loudest crowds of the year.
- Sun., Nov. 8 — First Family Funday (3:05 p.m.): fans can skate on the BOK Center ice after the game and collect autographs. Bring skates or rent a pair.
- Nov. 27–29 — Worcester comes to town: a three-games-in-three-days series over Thanksgiving weekend. It is the first time an Eastern Conference team has played a three-game set in Tulsa since the Oilers joined the ECHL.
- Dec. 5–6 — Games at WeStreet Ice Center: the Oilers host Kansas City and Wichita at their own practice rink at 4143 S. Yale Ave. The smaller building puts every seat close to the glass.
- Dec. 18–20 — New Mexico’s first visit: the expansion Goatheads play their first three games ever against Tulsa at the BOK Center.
- Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 — New Year’s against Kansas City: Tulsa closes 2026 in Independence, Missouri, then opens 2027 against the Mavericks again.
The roster: continuity first
Murray’s off-season approach leaned on familiar faces. Veteran winger Tyler Poulsen is back for a sixth season in Tulsa, and the summer also brought back forwards such as Jonny Hooker and Dylan Fitze and goaltender Jake Sibell. Defenseman Caleb Huffman arrives after winning an SPHL championship in 2026, and rookie forward Ian Amsbaugh returns after an eight-game audition at the end of last season.
That mix matters because of how last season ended. Tulsa finished 2025-26 with 29 wins and 63 points, but went 16-9 over its final 25 games and closed the year with a 7-6 overtime win in Wichita. If the group that finished the season is closer to the real team than the group that started it, Tulsa should be a tougher out this winter.
Three questions that will decide the season
1. Can Tulsa win the Wichita series?
With 14 meetings, the head-to-head record against the Thunder is worth nearly a fifth of the season’s points. Winning that series comfortably would go a long way toward a playoff spot on its own.
2. How much help comes from Anaheim and San Diego?
ECHL rosters change constantly as players are called up to the AHL or assigned down. A stable goaltending situation and a few well-placed assignments from the Gulls could be the difference in a tight division.
3. Can the Oilers handle Kansas City?
The Mavericks ended Tulsa’s playoff runs in both 2024 and 2025 and are the defending Brabham Cup champions. Ten meetings give the Oilers plenty of chances to close the gap — and plenty of chances to measure it.
Our take
This is not a roster built for a rebuild. Murray kept a veteran core, added playoff-tested pieces and is working with a schedule that rewards beating the teams closest to you on the map. A top-four finish in the Mountain Division, and with it a playoff spot, is a reasonable expectation. A 75th season that ends with a long spring run would be the best possible way to celebrate it.
Schedules and promotions can change. Confirm game times and ticket details with the team before you go. Planning your first trip to the arena? Read our BOK Center game-day guide.
