The following column appeared in this week's edition of the Fort McMurray Connect newspaper:
There’s something about the goals that forward Mike Marianchuk scores that makes them more memorable than most.
The first time he found the back of the net as an Oil Baron was halfway across the world in Moscow; a two-goal night in the MOB’s win over Atlant; their only victory of their pre-season campaign in Russia.
At that time, he’d been a late off-season acquisition for G.M. Gord Thibodeau; a forward who had contributed in two seasons with the Drumheller Dragons but not necessarily excelled, after a 21-point debut season and 18-point sophomore campaign.
The intention on his part was clear; to reach new heights – and reach them he did, tallying 14 goals and 23 assists with the MOB, nearly doubling his career point totals.