Fort McMurray got off to the start they wanted to the 2024/25 season, sweeping a weekend series on the road against the Lloydminster Bobcats. Carter Schmidt led the way offensively with four goals, while Vincent Filion turned aside 75 of the 78 shots he faced. Special teams also played a crucial role in the Oil Barons success, as they went 5-for-12 on the power-play and a perfect 12-for-12 on the penalty kill.
Opening night saw a lot of energy and a lot of penalties between both teams. Special teams were won by the Oil Barons, who went 2-for-7 on the power-play and 9-for-9 on the penalty kill. Bobcats goaltender Kaiden Kirkwood made an eye popping save on Jaxon Priddle to keep the game scoreless, but eventually the Oil Barons would find a way to solve the Calgary, Alberta native. On a 5-on-3 power-play, Carter Schmidt slowly worked the puck into the offensive zone. The veteran cut to the middle of the ice and snapped a shot, popping Kirkwood’s water bottle in the process to make it 1-0 Oil Barons. Lloydminster pushed back with a couple power-play opportunities of their own. However, Vincent Filion, in his Oil Barons debut, made several stellar stops to maintain Fort McMurray’s lead into the intermission. Lloydminster found a way to tie up the hockey game early in the second period. While 4-on-4, Jack Birch picked up a bouncing puck, flew down the right wing before ripping a shot over the blocker of Filion. The physicality continued to pick up between the two teams as they each had their opportunities to take a lead in the middle frame. But both goaltenders stood tall, and the Oil Barons killed off a 5-on-3 penalty kill to keep the game at 1-1 after 40 minutes of play. Fort McMurray restored their advantage in the third period. La Glace, Alberta’s Reis Nyland forced the puck through the neutral zone, fed a pass to Leo Adams before receiving a return feed in the offensive zone. Nyland was denied by Kirkwood but Danny Akkouche followed up the play putting home the rebound to give the MOB a 2-1 lead. Fort McMurray got some much needed insurance midway through the third period. While on another power-play, Patani Mutambo received the puck at the blue-line. The rookie from Calgary unleashed a wrist shot that beat a screened Kirkwood for his first career AJHL goal, and the Oil Barons had themselves a 3-1 lead. Lloydminster pressed back. They got one goal back with less than four minutes remaining. Teague McAllister picked up the puck behind Filion’s goal and as he wrapped the puck around, he found a wide open Kade Fendelet making it a 3-2 game. The Bobcats looked for the equalizer, but they couldn’t solve Filion and the Oil Barons took two points on opening night.
An offensive explosion led the MOB to victory on Saturday night. Carter Schmidt scored a hat trick, while Charles-Olivier Villeneuve had a three point night, and the Oil Barons ran home with a 6-1 win. Schmidt opened the scoring on the power-play late in the first period. Villeneuve threw a shot on target and Schmidt jammed home the rebound to make it 1-0 Fort McMurray. Then the Oil Barons offence erupted in the second period. Villeneuve sniped home his first goal of the season to double Fort McMurray’s lead, then 32 seconds later, Reis Nyland scored on a 2-on-1 to make it 3-0 Oil Barons. A new goaltender didn’t change the fate of the Bobcats. Halfway through the second period, Fort McMurray struck again. Jason Huang intercepted a pass in the offensive zone and fed Schmidt, who slid the puck underneath the goaltender, Anders Miller, for his second goal of the game. The Bobcats responded a minute later when Daniel Zhou finished off an odd man rush for his first career AJHL goal, but the Oil Barons struck back before the end of the period. On another power-play opportunity, the MOB won an offensive zone faceoff. Danny Akkouche slid the puck to Schmidt, who completed the hat-trick with a wrist shot to the top shelf. Fort McMurray made it 6-1 in the third period on another power-play goal. Jason Huang found a wide open Leo Adams at the back post, and the Gander, Newfoundland product scored his first career AJHL goal to make it 6-1 Oil Barons.
Fort McMurray return to action on Friday night for their home opener against the Camrose Kodiaks. Pre-game festivities start at 5pm with a barbeque, face painting, a team meet and greet and more. Puck drop at Centerfire Place is at 7:30pm.
Get your tickets here: https://tickets.fortmcmurrayoilbarons.ca/
