Story Coming In:
The Oil Barons are happy to close the book on the preseason. Fort McMurray went an AJHL worst 1-5 during the dress rehearsals, however, there were a lot of encouraging signs the final weekend in Slave Lake against Grande Prairie. Rookie Noah Kelly led the Barons in points with five in as many games. Griffin Gidney also turned heads with four points in four contests, while Cade Petersen tallied three goals. The MOB have 11 returning players this season, more than the last two seasons combined. The influx of veterans brings high expectations to northeastern Alberta, as the team tries to claim their fourth AJHL crown. Fort McMurray opens the season on the road against Lloydminster. Last year, the MOB went 4-2 against the Bobcats. Danny Akkouche had the most points against the Bobcats last season with seven, while Leo Adams’ six was the most from the returning players.
View From Lloydminster:
The Border City bunch had an up and down preseason. Finishing with a 2-3 record, the Bobcats had three games against SJHL teams, seeing them go 1-2 over that stretch. Kade Fendelet and Kael Screpnak paced the Bobcats through the preseason with five points. They will be leaned on heavily, as Lloydminster lost 12 players from last season. One answer the Bobcats will look to answer is who will be the goalie. Lloydminster acquired the CJHL playing rights of Matthew Kondro from the Drumheller Dragons, however, the St Albert product is starting the season with the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels. One thing fans are excited about in the Border City is the league’s newest arena. The Bobcats played one preseason game in the Cenovus Energy Hub (a 7-1 win over the SJHL’s Battlefords North Stars). Lloydminster is hoping the new rink will be home to the team’s first ever AJHL title this season.
