Story Coming In:
Fort McMurray looks to build off of their momentum after a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Canucks on Saturday. Evan Arnold scored the game winner with 31 seconds remaining, while Noah Nelson made 34 saves in the win. The Oil Barons have enjoyed some success on the road so far this season. They sport a 3-3-0-1 record away from Centerfire Place, which includes a three game road point streak with wins against Drumheller and Calgary, and a shootout loss against Olds. This will be the first time the Oil Barons play three games in three nights. Last year the Mob only had one three in three on the schedule, where they went 1-2. With only six points separating the Oil Barons from 6th in the standings, a successful trip would go a long way in seeing the blue and gold climb the standings.
View From Olds, Blackfalds & Camrose:
It’s been a difficult season for the Olds Grizzlys. With only six points, they sit at the bottom of the AJHL standings. However, Olds is only four points out of a playoff, and they have some bright spots on their team in Ryder Many Grey Horses and goaltender Aidan Comeau. A win for the Grizzlys would keep them in the thick of the playoff race. No team has been hotter than the Blackfalds Bulldogs. The Bulldogs sit tied for first place and have won their last 11 games in a row. Blackfalds has three of the top five scorers in the AJHL and Eagle Builders Centre has been a fortress this season, where the Bulldogs have gone 8-1, including winning seven in a row. Meanwhile, the Camrose Kodiaks looked like a darling in the AJHL at the start of the season. By the end of the showcase, the Kodiaks were 5-1-0-1, sitting near the top of the standings, which included a marquee win over the Brooks Bandits. Since then Camrose has been in a freefall. The Kodiaks lost all nine games since the showcase, sitting in 12th place. The Kodiaks boast a veteran defense core that doesn’t give their opposition a lot to look at, the biggest challenge for Camrose is finding the back of the net.
Stats Leaders For Fort McMurray:
Goals: Gruener, Gaul & Hoogendoorn (5)
Assists: R. Arnold & Ringor (6)
Points: Gruener (10)
PIM: Schmidt (26)
Goalies: Nelson: 3-3-0-1, 2.68 GAA, 0.933%, 1 SO
Gratton: 2-6-0-1, 4.29 GAA, 0.888%
