Story Coming In:
Fort McMurray’s four game road trip is considered a success by the team. The Oil Barons tallied a 2-1-0-1 record, including points in three straight games. After falling 7-2 on Thanksgiving, the Oil Barons scored wins against Drumheller and Calgary, before falling in a shootout on Friday to the Olds Grizzlys. Noah Nelson started in three games for the Oil Barons, collecting his first victory in a Fort McMurray uniform, while also claiming his first career shutout. Captain Keefe Gruener had himself a trip to remember with six points over the four games, as he now leads the team in points with 10. Now the boys in blue and gold return to Centerfire Place for only the fifth time this season. They’ll look to improve on their 1-2-0-1 record on home ice as they attempt to scale the AJHL standings.
View From Brooks:
The Bandits are sitting where everyone expected them to be. At the top of the standings and firing on all cylinders. With a 10-1 record, the Bandits have rallied off eight straight victories, and in dominating fashion. Since the calendar flipped to October, Brooks has scored at least five goals in every game, while watching their power-play go 8-for-21 over the four games. The Bandits scored a third most 52 goals in the AJHL, while giving up a league fewest 18 across 11 games. In short, the Bandits are a difficult team to beat, just ask the Oil Barons, who have lost 15 straight to the league titan.
Stats Leaders For Fort McMurray:
Goals: Gruener & Hoogendoorn (5)
Assists: R. Arnold (6)
Points: Gruener (10)
PIM: Schmidt (20)
Goalie: Nelson: 2-3-0-1, 2.94 GAA, 0.925%, 1 SO
