The Oil Barons are still looking for their first win in Grande Prairie since February 4th, 2023 after getting swept by the Storm in a three game set. Justin Dumais and Cade Petersen extended their point streaks to ten and eight games respectively, while Fort McMurray got to see the debuts of Stefan Serediak, Jayden Lazare and Bradley Schmidt.
Fort McMurray got off to a solid start on Saturday. Despite being shorthanded, Leo Adams forced a turnover and went on a 2-on-0 breakaway, feeding Cade Petersen for his eighth goal of the season. It was the Oil Barons league leading ninth shorthanded goal of the year. But Grande Prairie found an equalizer. After a point shot from Matthew Lesyk was blocked, Treysen Miller batted the puck out of midair, knotting the game at 1-1. A couple bad goals against and the game tilted in favor of the Storm. Miller got his second goal of the game, scoring from a sharp angle. Then Matthew Gillard’s neutral zone dump-in went through the glove of Brendan Gee, giving the Storm a 3-1 lead. Early in the second period, Fort McMurray closed the deficit to one goal. With his back to the net, Adams lifted the puck under the crossbar for a power-play goal, making it a 3-2 game. However, Grande Prairie struck on a power-play of their own. Braeden Veldhuizen blasted a shot top shelf, for his ninth goal of the year. Then, Will Harris capitalized on an Oil Baron turnover to make it 5-2 Grande Prairie heading into the second intermission. Fort McMurray again made it interesting. After a power move by newcomer, Bradley Schmidt, was stopped, Griffin Gidney followed up the puck and poked it home making it 5-3. But the Storm snuffed Fort McMurray’s momentum, after Roghan Walker tapped home a rebound, and Grande Prairie walked away with a 6-3 win.
Sunday saw the MOB get off to another quick start. Two minutes in, while on the power-play, Lucas McDonald had a shot stopped before Drew Freer tucked home the rebound. It was the captain’s 13th goal of the campaign. But Grande Prairie responded a few minutes later. Rydley Gerbrandt threw the puck in front and found a wide open Nicholas Morin, who had an easy tap-in. The Storm took their first lead before the end of the period. Connor Frost held off a defender and snapped the puck top corner, making it 2-1 Grande Prairie. The Storm’s power-play increased their lead in the second period. Chase Christensen rifled a shot past a screened Nathan Claydon, making it 3-1. The two teams wouldn’t see another goal until the third period. Griffin Gidney stepped into the offensive zone and wired a shot to the top corner, cutting the Oil Barons deficit to one. However, Grande Prairie restored their two goal advantage on another power-play. Colin Doherty had his shot turned aside and Max Leduc put home the rebound. There was no quit in the MOB. With less than a minute to go, Justin Dumais banked a shot off Gidney and in to make it 4-3. Fort McMurray had a couple chances to tie the game, but they couldn’t put the puck in the back of the net, ultimately getting swept in Grande Prairie.
It will be a full week of practice for the MOB before they return home for a pair of contests. Fort McMurray will battle the Olds Grizzlys at Centerfire Place on Friday and Saturday nights. Both games start at 7pm.
