OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Oklahoma Warriors, proud members of the North American Hockey League, announced Tuesday that Joey DeRosa has been named captain, with Jeremy Sprung, Ben Osiashvili and Olivier Laverdière being named assistant captains for the 2026-27 season.
DeRosa, 20, is in his third season with the Warriors has logged five games played to start the season, picking up one assist. Throughout his career, he’s appeared in 99 regular-season games in the NAHL, registering 12 goals and 18 assists, with three postseason games added to his career totals – all but one of those games being with the Warriors.
“He’s got over 100 games in the North American Hockey League, and he’s been an Oklahoma Warrior pretty much from the beginning,” Head Coach Eric Ballard said. “He’s a great facilitator of the team… to the coaching staff, from the coaching staff back to his teammates.”
Sprung, 20, joined the Warriors via trade from the New Mexico Ice Wolves right before the home opener. Having appeared in five games for the Warriors this season already, the Smithtown, New York native registered four assists. Prior to the South Division, the 6-foot-2 forward has had stops with the New Jersey Jr. Titans and Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks. In his NAHL career, Sprung has 106 total games played, including playoffs, where he’s recorded a total of 22 goals and 27 assists.
Laverdière, 19, was acquired in a trade over the offseason from the Shreveport Mudbugs. The Quebec native boasts a playing resume of 102 games in the QMJHL, including both regular season and postseason contests, split among the Victoriaville Tigres and Cape Breton Eagles. In those 102 games, the 6-foot-2 winger has logged 12 goals and 17 assists. In his five games already with the Warriors, he has a tie for a team-high seven points (2 G, 5 A).
Osiashvili, 19, was acquired by the Warriors via trade from the Bismarck Bobcats last season, and has appeared in five games for the Warriors to start this season. In 52 NAHL games, he’s logged nine goals and 14 assists. Before Bismarck, the Hewlett, New York native spent two seasons with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers, recording three goals and four assists in 61 games.
“All four guys are going to bring a different element of leadership to our room,” Ballard said. “They’ve got the voices and experience at high levels, and I’m really excited about the leadership group that the team chose to lead us into the next seven months of hockey. I’m excited for those guys to step up and do the things we ask them to as coaches, but more importantly, be that conduit between Nic [Leibold] and I to the locker room.”
The newly announced captains group will lead the Warriors into their next contest at home on Friday, Oct. 2nd against the El Paso Rhinos for Pink the Rink weekend. Puck drop from Blazers Ice Centre is set for 7 p.m. CST. Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.okwarriors.com/tickets/
