It was a successful road trip for Fort McMurray. Picking up three of a possible four points, the Oil Barons secured their place in the AJHL playoffs. Ryan Arnold put up five points on the weekend, Justin Dumais had a few assists, while Brendan Gee picked up his 18th win of the season.
Friday wasn’t easy, but the Oil Barons trusted their process and it led to a 5-3 win. Drayton Valley opened the scoring four minutes into the game. A tight angle drive from Dylan Snelgrove found its way through Brendan Gee for the rookie’s fifth goal of the season. The Thunder doubled their advantage before the end of the first period. Lukas Miller deflected home a Caedem Emmett point shot on the power-play, and Drayton Valley led 2-0 despite being outshot 16-10. In the second period, the Oil Barons found their way onto the scoreboard. Justin Dumais set up Ryan Arnold for a blast. It was Arnold’s 30th goal of the season. A late power-play goal even the game at 2-2. Dumais walked out from the left corner and his centering pass went off the skates of Leo Adams and into the back of the net. Drayton Valley took another lead early in the third period. A weird bounce went off the skate of Gee and trickled over the goal line. Affiliated player, George Monaghan was credited with his first career AJHL goal. But the MOB didn’t panic. Spencer Kunz scored a highlight reel goal, going coast to coast to tie the game at 3-3. Then Drew Freer set up Arnold for his second goal of the game and Fort McMurray’s league leading 11th shorthanded goal of the season, to put the Oil Barons in front 4-3. Stefan Serediak had a terrific individual effort to seal the game late with his 18th goal of the campaign, and Fort McMurray clinched their place in the AJHL postseason.
Fort McMurray stretched their point streak to 13 games against the South Division. About 90 seconds into the game, Ryan Arnold opened the scoring for the MOB. A point shot from Ethan Makokis was deflected by Arnold for his team leading 32nd goal of the season. We didn’t see any more scoring until the second period. Camrose tied the game at 1-1, when Bowen Grycan batted a rebound out of midair and past Nathan Claydon. Halfway through the frame, Fort McMurray restored their advantage when Lucas McDonald drove to the net and tucked home his 10th goal of the year. The Kodiaks once again tied up the game. Tavish Beagle struck on the power-play, after multiple saves from Claydon. The Oil Barons got the lead back with less than a minute remaining in the second frame. Off an offensive face-off win, the puck was swept to Patani Mutambo, and the defender scored his first goal of the season to make it 3-2. Camrose, once again, found a response. After a save from Claydon, Brandon De Haas ripped the puck from under the goaltender and put it home, and the game headed to overtime. The extra frame only lasted 25 seconds. De Haas got loose in the slot, wired a shot top corner, giving the home side a 4-3 win.
The Oil Barons have two more home games to wrap up the regular season. Wednesday will see them battle the Bonnyville Pontiacs. Puck drop at Centerfire Place is at 7pm.
