Davies agrees to terms with Oilers

TULSA, Okla. —The Tulsa Oilers, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Anaheim Ducks and the American Hockey League’s San Diego Gulls, announced the signing of defenseman Michael Davies for the 2025-26 season.

Davies, 28, joins the Oilers off a multi-year hiatus from professional hockey. The offseason training partner of Oilers’ forward Tyler Poulsen last played pro in 2022 with Kalamazoo, notching eight points (2g-6a) in 30 games. Davies also attended Colorado Avalanche development camp in 2020.

Prior to turning pro, Davies was a standout at the University of Denver, producing 47 points (9g-38a) and a +72 rating in 159 career games. The St. Louis, Missouri native burst onto the scene as a freshman, registering 17 points (3g-14a) and leading the National Champion Pioneers, and all NCAA freshmen, with a +32 rating — the second-best among all Division 1 players.

The first-year student athlete was a key piece in Denver’s first title since 2005, finding the score sheet in three of four NCAA Tournament battles. Davies received the Keith Magnuson Award as Denver’s top defensive player twice, finishing top five in plus-minus rating in all four seasons and ranking second among the defensive corps in assists on two occasions. Striking balance on and off the ice, Davies was named to the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team thrice and served as an alternate captain as a senior.

Davies also won a gold media at the 2013-14 Five Nations Tournament, representing Team USA alongside future Denver teammate and current Anaheim Duck Troy Terry.

Prior to his collegiate success, Davies produced at both ends of the ice in a 111-game United States Hockey League career, logging 48 points (11g-37a), 117 penalty minutes and a +28 rating with Dubuque and Waterloo. He recorded 34 points (7g-27a) and a +20 rating during the 2015-16, leading all Black Hawks' defensemen in all four categories, while his 66 penalty minutes and 27 assists both ranked third among all skaters regardless of position.