Dearborn Heights native Jordan Oesterle talks NHL experience, Connor McDavid and WMU

By @StefanKubus –

Jordan Oesterle had a brief taste of the NHL in early 2015, and now, he’s hungry for more.

The 23-year-old defenseman from Dearborn Heights played his first professional season with the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons in 2014-15 after a three-year stint at Western Michigan. Oesterle finished the year with 25 points in 65 contests, but in late February, he was called up for a six-game stint with the big boys.

“It kept me hungry and it’s nice to get a feel for it,” Oesterle said. “You don’t want to go back down; you want to stay up there. It’s good, it shows you what you need to work on, and it’s all positive.”

After a deep run with Oklahoma City in the AHL playoffs, that hunger helped transition Oesterle into his offseason return back home.

“I took a little time off. We went far in the American (Hockey) League. But I’ve just been around here training, trying to skate and just trying to enjoy the summer as much as I can.”

Oesterle said the playoff experience was huge for his development going forward and, when asked about the concept of one day sending a breakout pass up to Connor McDavid in Edmonton, he smiled.

“Yeah I hope I’m part of that, and it’s going to be fun getting there for training camp and just seeing him on the ice,” Oesterle said. “I’m sure he’ll surprise everyone. He’s going to be a really good player for years to come.”

For that to become a reality, he’ll have to impress the Oilers brass this season. Oesterle’s contract is set to expire after the 2015-16 season, whence forth he will become a restricted free agent.

But the former Bronco credits his coaching staff in Kalamazoo for preparing him for the challenges that come with professional hockey, both on and off the ice.

Former Western Michigan assistant coach Pat Ferschweiler coached Oesterle during his three seasons there, but has since moved on to join Jeff Blashill behind the Detroit Red Wings bench. Blashill, who coached one season at WMU just before Oesterle arrived, was the coach who recruited Oesterle.

“All three years there were huge for my development,” Oesterle said. “Andy Murray, Pat Ferschweiler, Rob Facca, they really molded me, showing me what it’s like, they treated me like pros, they teach us how to act like a pro so when you make the jump, it really isn’t that much of a transition.”

Now that Oesterle has made said jump from the NCAA to the AHL, time will tell when the next jump comes and whether it’s permanent or not.