FORT MCMURRAY, AB (December 9, 2012) — The Fort McMurray Oil Barons (17-14-3) completed a two-game sweep of the Lloydminster Bobcats with a 6-2 win Sunday afternoon, vaulting from 7th to 4th place in the AJHL North division with one of their biggest wins of the year.
It was a hot start for the home side, begun by a player on the hottest of hot streaks. Doug Jones (Calgary, AB) followed up his two goals from the previous night by opening the scoring 3:05 in, assisted as usual by his linemate Danny Gayle (Calgary, AB). Jones fired a wrist shot from the left-wing face-off circle that went off of goalie Chase Martin and into the Bobcat net.
Just over five minutes later, the Barons took advantage of their first powerplay opportunity when Luc Lalor (St. Albert, AB) fed a perfect cross-ice pass from the left hashmarks, to Matt Purmal (Merrill, WI) who fired from the right wing, roofing his shot and sending the water bottle behind Martin flying for a 2-0 Barons lead.
Jones scored his fourth goal of the weekend just a few minutes later, converting on a perfect 2-on-1 pass from Gayle to make it 3-0.
The Bobcats came close soon after, converting first on a powerplay one-timer by Tanner Dunkle in front of the net late in the first, then opening the second period scoring 2:55 in when Austin McDonald took control at the side of the net, cut in front, and jammed it past Ethan Wood (Jasper, AB) to bring the Bobcats within 1.
But the Barons pulled away soon thereafter. First, Adam Wilcox (Alpharetta, GA) scored his first junior A goal, converting a wrist shot from the left wing face-off circle on a 3-on-1 rush. Then, Zach Wittenburg (Chestermere, AB) scored on a high slot wrister on the Barons' second and final powerplay in the final minute of the second, allowing the team to go 2-for-2 with the man advantage.
Midway through the third, newcomer Hayden Dawes (Stony Plain, AB) scored his first goal as a Baron in just his third game, with a wrist shot from the slot off of a perfect dropback pass by Wilcox, who registered a multi-point game, as did Jones who got the second assist.
But the third also saw a few Barons ejected; first Danny Gayle on a five-minute boarding major, then Parker Evans-Campbell on a checking from behind minor. Two fights happened as well – Gayle being jumped by Jason Wark, then Kyle Campbell's (Fort McMurray, AB) extended tilt with Linden Springer late in the period.
The Barons held on for the 6-2 win to move into a three-way tie for fourth in the division with Whitecourt and Drayton Valley.
Those are the very two teams that the MOB will face this coming weekend at the Casman Centre, as the Wolverines are in town Friday night, and the Thunder on Saturday.
Both games go at 8pm with pre-game coverage at 7:45 on Country 93.3.
Country 93.3 3 stars:
3. Adam Wilcox (1 goal, 1 assist)
2. Danny Gayle (3 assists)
1. Doug Jones (2 goals, 1 assist)