Riedel to join Brahmas

Former Tulsa Oilers forward claimed off waivers

Kind of did a double-take when I saw Dan Riedel's name on the transactions list (waived) Monday afternoon. Riedel, 25, was one of the Tulsa Oilers' top five scorers last season with 41 points (18 G, 23 A, +1) and 49 penalty minutes in 52 games played. That included 13 points (7 G, 6 A) on the power play and three game-winning goals.

Riedel was a healthy scratch (the first time in his pro career) for Friday night's home and season opener against the Wichita Thunder, a 4-3 win for Tulsa. He was not listed on the roster for Saturday night's game at Wichita, a 4-1 win for Tulsa. By the following day, he knew his season would be played elsewhere. After a couple of days of uncertainty (would he remain in the CHL, play in Europe or go back to school) Riedel was packing up and getting ready to head to North Richland Hills on Wednesday morning to join the Texas Brahmas.

Turns out, with right wing Harrison Reed sent down from the Lake Erie Monsters (AHL) and forward John Mori joining the team, Riedel became the odd man out, as much a casualty of the salary cap than space on the roster. Oilers head coach Bruce Ramsay attempted a couple of trades, but in the end, Riedel was placed on waivers and Dan Wildfong quickly seized the opportunity to bring Reidel into the Brahmas family.

I was at NYTEX this morning when Riedel arrived. The 5' 9", 177 pound native of Rochester Hills, Michigan is a very personable individual and a guy who very obviously is hankering to play some hockey. It's doubtful he'll play on Friday night, but we may see him on the ice as early as Saturday, when the Brahmas take on the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.

A little background for those unfamiliar...Riedel played three seasons of Junior A hockey beginning with the Springfield Jr. Blues (NAHL) where he registered 67 points (29 G, 38 A) and 110 PIM in 56 games played. He split the following season with the Jr. Blues and the Lincoln Stars (USHL) with a combined output of 58 points (30 G, 28 A) and 77 PIM in 54 games played.

Returning to the Stars in 2004-05, Riedel tallied a league-leading 81 points (30 G, 51 A) in 60 games played. He was rated as the seventh-best forward on Inside College Hockey's top incoming freshmen rankings and was selected as the 2004-05 USHL/CCM Forward of the Year.

A season and a half of NCAA Division I hockey followed with the Ferris State Bulldogs (CCHA) but after playing 19 games during the 2006-07 season, Riedel left the team and officially withdrew from the University to pursue a professional playing career. He spent the remainder of the season playing in the ECHL with the Phoenix Roadrunners, Toledo Storm and the Pensacola Ice Pilots.

Riedel spent the following season in the IHL with the Muskegon Fury, putting up 52 points (29 G, 23 A) and 69 PIM in 67 games played. He added seven points (3 G, 4 A) in six post-season contests. Riedel returned to the ECHL in 2008-09, playing 55 games with the Dayton Bombers (with 46 points on 19 G, 27 A) and 17 games with the Las Vegas Wranglers (with 11 points on 4 G, 7 A). During the playoffs, he added 14 points (6 G, 8 A) in 17 games.

Riedel attended the Oklahoma City Barons' (AHL) inaugural training camp in September.

Photo Credit: Les Stockton/Pro Hockey News