Local player signs with junior hockey program in Tulsa, Oklahoma!

“I just want to follow my passion for hockey”

Former Crested Butte Wolfpack hockey player Ben Reaman took one step closer to his dreams by signing a contract to play for the Tulsa Junior Oilers hockey team in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“I’ve always wanted to take hockey to the next level since I was a little kid,” says Reaman. “But it became a reality the past two or three years.”
Reaman grew up in the town of Crested Butte hockey program, spending his formative years under local coaches such as Bill Frame, Norm Bardeen, Dan Law, Michael Blunck and finishing up under John Mortell and Sean Kelly at the high school/midget level.
It wasn’t until his second year with the Wolfpack that Reaman started turning heads and thinking about playing juniors as he led the Rocky Mountain Youth Hockey League (RMYHL) in scoring both his junior and senior years.
“When I started playing midget hockey and having success at it I did think about taking it to the next level,” says Reaman.
But the RMYHL is a small pond and Reaman tested the slightly bigger waters of Colorado Tier II hockey, playing for a select team based out of Breckenridge this past spring.
It was then that the thought of stepping up to the juniors really peaked, as Reaman led the league in scoring.
“I realized that maybe I can play with these kids,” says Reaman. “It really boosted my confidence.”
Reaman then made his second trip to the Junior Placement Showcase (JPS) in Denver. He tried it out for the first time a year earlier with no results, but had a different experience the second time around, attracting the notice of a junior coach out of California.
 The coach asked Reaman to go to Philadelphia in early July and play with his developmental team at an international tournament.
“It went well,” says Reaman. “It was an awesome experience to see what that level of hockey brings.”
While the team out of California appeared interested and wanted to see him play more in August, the Tulsa Junior Oilers contacted Reaman with a better offer.
“One of their scouts saw me at the JPS,” explains Reaman.
The deal got closer after the coach of the Junior Oilers spoke with Bryan Smith, the president/director of operations for Rocky Mountain Hockey Schools. He has an extensive hockey resume and has watched Reaman develop as a player over the years.
“Ben has always been one of the hardest working players of his age group, very respectful,” says Smith. “Those are little things that help him out. Plus, he has a natural feel for the net.”
Mortell concurs. “He has the raw skills and is a natural goal scorer,” says Mortell. “No matter what the game is, he rises to it.”
Reaman made a trip to Denver last weekend to meet the coach of the Junior Oilers and came away with a contract to play for them this year at the Junior A Tier III level.
“It was pretty crazy,” says Reaman. “It hit me that it’s not just a hope anymore.”
Junior A Tier III is the first step of several in the U.S. hockey world.
“Junior A is a stepping stone to college hockey,” explains Smith. “What Ben has opened himself up to is a path to play college hockey.”
Smith believes Reaman could see some success but nothing is definite in the “real” hockey world.
“He seems very driven and a lot of players that get to Junior Hockey Tier III have already plateaued,” says Smith. “He may have an adjustment issue but I think Ben should have no problem if he goes in working hard. Junior hockey is a blue-collar hockey mentality, it’s cutthroat in a sense. If he’s not working hard, his position goes away.”
“It’s a big step from Crested Butte but his motivation and desire to play the game will make a difference,” adds Mortell.
Reaman leaves for Tulsa at the end of August to join the team and start a new chapter in his hockey career.
“If you work hard and dedicate yourself, I feel anything can happen,” says Reaman. “I just want to follow my passion for hockey.”