Tulsa Oilers goaltender Julian Junca returns overseas after just one ECHL season
Tulsa Oilers goaltender Julian Junca is heading back overseas. The 26-year-old has signed with HK Dukla Michalovce of the Slovakian hockey league after spending just one season in the ECHL.
Originally from Prades, France, he made the jump to North America last year and signed with the Oilers in early September after playing in his home country for the previous five years.
Junca's record with the Tulsa team this past season was 16-16-5 with a 2.87 goals-against average, 0.901 save percentage, and one shutout in 37 appearances. His goals-against average was the seventh-best among rookie goaltenders. He also played two games at the AHL level for the Chicago Wolves.
In the first round of the playoffs against Kansas City, Junca started all four games for the Oilers. Although the team lost every game, Junca performed well, achieving a 2.57 goals-against average and a 0.915 save percentage against the regular-season champions.
After the Oilers were eliminated from the 2024 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs, Junca represented France in the 2024 IIHF World Championship. In three games, he posted a 4.19 goals-against average and an 0.879 save percentage.