Despite a goal from newcomer Alex Gritz and two from Mitchell Russell, the Thunder lose to the Oilers in OT.
The Wichita Thunder signed Alex Gritz to a Standard Player Contract (SPC) Jan. 22. On Saturday, he notched his first ECHL goal.
The night would have been even better for Gritz if the Thunder had won. It was Tulsa who prevailed, however, in a 4-3 overtime winner at the BOK Center.
Mitchell Russell scored twice on the night for Wichita in a losing effort. Just 32 seconds into the game, he buried a wrister over the glove of Oilers goaltender Talyn Boyko for a 1-0 Wichita lead.
Gritz increased the lead to 2-0 at the 5:33 mark of the second.
After Declan Smith sent a pass into the slot, Gritz redirected it past Boyko with one hand on his stick and his first goal in a Wichita uniform.
The 24-year-old Gritz started the 2024-25 season in Wichita’s training camp before signing with the Fayetteville Marksmen of the SPHL. He recorded 25 points (12-13-25) in 33 games.
Before turning pro, the 6-foot, 181-pound Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania native spent the last three years at the University of Waterloo (Sports).
Duggie Lagrone brought the Oilers to within 2-1 at 11:13 of the middle frame on a shorthanded goal.
After Jay Dickman’s stick caught Reid Petryk in the face, Tulsa was given a four-minute man advantage. Andrew Lucas made the Thunder pay at 8:37 of the third and tied the game 2-2.
Russell notched his second of the night at 11:58 to put Wichita back in front 3-2 and earn his ninth goal of the season.
Petryk tied the score again 3-3 at 16:49 at the top of the crease.
Regulation wasn’t enough, and the game went into overtime.
Jeremie Biakabutuka won the game for the Oilers at the 6:10 mark, after Easton Brodzinski fired a pass from the left wall into the slot and Biakabutuka redirected it past Gabriel Carriere.