Story Coming In:
After an overtime win on Sunday, the Oil Barons just need one point to clinch the final playoff spot. Sunday was a game of resilience for the MOB, overcoming a first period deficit and a late game tying goal, to put themselves on the brink of qualification. Brendan Gee had a phenomenal contest stopping 38 of the 40 shots he faced, while Ryan Arnold had a goal and a helper, and Spencer Kunz picked up the overtime winner. With four shots to clinch a playoff spot, Fort McMurray will enter the weekend with confidence. The Oil Barons sport a record of 16-3-4 against the South Division, including picking points in 11 straight contests.
View From Drayton Valley & Camrose:
It has been a season of building for the Thunder. Sporting one the league’s youngest squads, Drayton Valley is looking towards next season, where they could return every player on their roster. The star for Jeff Truit’s group has been defender Taynton Lavender. The Victoria, BC product leads all defencemen in points with 41, despite missing a chunk of time due to an injury picked up at the World Junior A Challenge. Other standouts are local product Caedem Emmett, and 19-year-olds Daniel Zhou and Jack Sears. All three players are over 30 points this season, on a team ranked last in goals scored. The Kodiaks snapped a lengthy losing skid on Wednesday with a shootout win over Calgary. Camrose’s losing streak saw them slip from contention for first in the South Division to third place. The offence has had its struggles in recent games. The Kodiaks only managed more than three goals twice in their last nine games, seeing it fall from second overall in the league to fifth.
Stats Leaders:
Goals: Arnold (29)
Assists: Dumais (46)
Points: Dumais (71)
PIM: Nordstrom (118)
Goalie: Gee 17-7-2-1, 2.99 GAA, .915 SV%, 1SO
