TULSA, OK – The Tulsa Oilers announced on Friday the signing of rookie goaltender Dan Clarke. To make room on the roster for Clarke, goalie Dan Bakala has been waived. Center Mike Ullrich, who departed for the ECHL, has been placed on team suspension.
Clarke, 6-1, 165 pounds, was in training camp with the Fort Worth Brahmas and ended up playing the first half of the season for the Mississippi Surge of the SPHL. In 14 games for the Surge, Clarke posted an 8-4-1 record with a 2.54 goals against average and a .907 save percentage. The 24-year old netminder is the younger brother of Dylan Clarke who played forward for the Oilers last season and finished with a team-high 64 points.
“Dan comes very highly recommended, not only by his brother but by everyone I’ve talked to,” said Bruce Ramsay, Oilers Head Coach. “At this point of the season, we are still looking for consistency at the goaltender position and I expect Dan to come in and pick up where he left off in the SPHL. I like what I’ve seen so far out of Shane Madolora and I think Dan gives us another very solid option.”
Prior to turning pro, Clarke spent four years at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. As a sophomore with the Bobcats, Clarke was named team MVP and recorded career-highs in games played (34), wins (15), and save percentage (.931). The Belleville, Ontario native won the longest game in NCAA hockey history when he made 73 saves in Quinnipiac’s 3-2, five-overtime victory over Union in the 2010 ECAC Hockey Quarterfinals. After an outstanding college career, Clarke signed with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders.
Bakala, appeared in 12 games for the Oilers this season. The rookie goaltender went 2-4-2 with a 4.04 goals against average and a .862 save percentage.
