Very Cool Vintage CHL Tulsa Oilers Game Worn Jersey
1971-72 # 1 Ron Low - Goaltender
Everyone who has seen this jersey has loved it. It has a fabulous vintage eye appeal with an exquisitely designed crest featuring a large Oil Drop, Maple Leaf (due to affiliation with the NHL Toronto Maple Leafs), hockey skate and Tulsa Oilers scripted inside.
I have not seen more than one other jersey from this team in this era. In fact any Tulsa Oilers jersey from the 60-70's era is exceedingly rare and a major piece in Texas Hockey History.
Game worn jerseys from the professional minor leagues of the AHL, CPHL, CHL, IHL and EHL from the 1950-60-70's are extremely rare and have tremendous stories attached to them. They often sport unique and attractive crests and the affiliation to the parent NHL team is often quite obvious.
This jersey hails from the 1971-72 season of the Central hockey League Tulsa Oilers who were a farm team of the NHL Toronto Maple Leafs. The style of this jersey is identical to that of the early 1970's V-neck Toronto Maple Leaf jerseys.
Playing goal for the 1971-72 Tulsa Oilers was 22 year old, Ron Low, who would begin his NHL career the following season with the parent club, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Low played 43 Regular Season games with the Tulsa Oilers in 1971-72 and 8 playofff games. They would lose to the eventual Champion, Dallas Black Hawks. Low would return to the Tulsa Oilers for the 1973-74 season By that time they had changed the striping pattern on the jerseys to a white body with green striping.
I initially thought it was possible that this jersey may have also been worn in the 1972-73 season by # 1 Gord McRae as the team photo in the blue jerseys shows them wearing this similar style. A historical website devoted to the history of the Tulsa Oilers has images of their white jerseys from the 1972-73 season and they have a different striping pattern which I believe came into play sometime in the 1972-73 season. Also, I have just been provided with original photos of Gord McRae in action in 1972-73 and he is wearing this same style jersey but upon close examination of the “A” in “TULSA, the tiny opening is slightly larger and more centred than the “A” on my jersey. Which would point to my jersey being from 1971-72 and worn by Ron Low. The gentleman who provided the photo also concurred that the team did eventually go to a different striping pattern at some point in the 1972-73 season.
Made by General Athletic, the faed tag is sewn into the inner hem. The "D & H Sporting Goods Inc. Tulsa OKLA" and size 48 tag are sewn into th collar. The jersey has a "square" shoulder yoke with small sleeve numbers measuring 2 3/4" high. The back number 1 is 11 " high.
The jersey shows very heavy wear in the form of heavy sweat and equipment stains in the lower body, arms and mid back. The chest measures 24" which indicates it has maintained its size 48 tagging. The cuffs have come un-stitched. There are loads of puck marks, runs and a couple repairs. The jersey was likely kept with the team over many seasons and used for practice and/or training camps.
An image of Brian Spencer in the white jersey with the 1971-72 Tulsa Oilers and a team photo with Ron Low in the blue jerseys has been attached.