Continuing our affiliation with the Edmonton Oilers has been a high priority for our organization...
Continuing our affiliation with the Edmonton Oilers has been a high priority for our organization this off-season and we’re very much looking forward to working with them during the 2012-13 season.
— That's Stockton Thunder president, Dan Chapman, talking about the renewal of Stockton's affiliation with the Edmonton Oilers. Not all teams in the NHL have an ECHL affiliation, but the Oilers have seen a few players go through Stockton and arrive in the NHL over the last six years. They have used the league as a purposeful developmental step for most of their young goaltending prospects with some success. Both Devan Dubnyk and Olivier Roy began their pro careers there, and Tyler Bunz will likely start there in 2012-13.
