Fort McMurray wrapped up their nine game home-stand with a 6-1-2 record, after splitting a pair of games against the top ranked Whitecourt Wolverines. The MOB got contributions up and down the lineup, while Berney Wetson was solid in between the pipes for both games.
The Wolverines powered their way to a 5-2 win on Friday. Jalen Bianchet had two goals and a helper, Ethan Short added a pair of goals, while Whitecourt outshot the Oil Barons 41-20. Fort McMurray got markers from a pair of rookies. Jaggar John extended his point streak to four games, while Noah Kelly tallied his second goal of the campaign. Whitecourt eventually broke through late in the first period. Bianchet wired a shot top corner for his league leading 17th goal of the season. Then a weird bounce increased the Wolverine lead to 2-0. After Bianchet had the puck swept off his stick, the Whitecourt captain threw it in front of Berney Weston’s goal where it ricocheted off Short and past the netminder. Short scored his second goal of the game to make it 3-0 Whitecourt. A little more than halfway through the second period, Jager Gugyelka shot the puck off the far pad of Weston, and Short capped off the 2-on-1 to perfection. Fort McMurray broke the goose egg a couple minutes later. Evan Benoit drove the puck to the net and in the mad scramble, John pushed home his fifth goal of the season. However, 1:09 later the Wolverines responded. Catching the Oil Barons on a line change, Chayse King set up a wide open Bianchet for his second goal of the game. Just over halfway through the third period, the MOB got a little bit of life. Noah Kelly raced through the neutral zone, snapping a shot just inside the left post, cutting the Whitecourt lead to 4-2. Yet again, the Wolverines wrestled back momentum, after a long ranged wrist shot from Quentin Bourne fooled Weston.
It was a much better effort from the Oil Barons on Saturday. The MOB came out flying to start the game and were rewarded with the opening goal. While on a power-play, Justin Dumais picked out Ryan Arnold with a seam pass, and the veteran forward one-timed his ninth goal of the year. However, the Oil Barons got themselves into penalty trouble and Whitecourt equalized. While on a 5-on-3 power-play, Jalen Bianchet ripped a shot into the top corner, making it 1-1. Both teams combined for seven goals in the second period. Chayse King struck for his first goal against his hometown team, giving Whitecourt their only lead of the night. Fort McMurray’s power-play then went to work. Arnold got his second goal of the game, rifling a shot past Luke McKechnie. Just over a minute later, Jaxen Gauchier restored Fort McMurray’s lead by finishing off a beautiful passing play with Arnold and Evan Benoit. Little more than halfway through the period, the Oil Barons would score, this time at even strength. Cash Brebant tied up his man in the face-off circle, allowing Carter Ellsworth to step into the slot. While Ellsworth was stopped, Ewan Gillis pinched in from the blue-line to stuff home the rebound, and the MOB extended their lead to 4-2. Whitecourt pulled one goal back while on the man advantage. Bianchet was left wide open in the slot, and the league’s top goal scorer sniped home his 20th goal of the season. Fort McMurray got the goal back late in the period. Cade Petersen wiggled his way out of a pin from Jager Gugyelka, raced to the left wing and fired a shot on goal that surprised McKechnie, for Petersen’s third goal of the season. The Oil Barons added one more goal before the end of the second period, which would turn out to be crucial. Spencer Kunz’s point shot was blocked, but Gauchier found the loose puck and put it in the net for his second goal of the game, putting the MOB in front 6-3. Whitecourt changed their goalie and came out flying in the third period. Tristan Slywka scored 17 seconds in to cut the lead down to 6-4. Then Bianchet completed his hat-trick with a shot off the post and in to make it 6-5. Fort McMurray faced even more adversity when goaltender Berney Wetson went down with injury, forcing affiliated netminder Kasey Fuson into action. The young man from St Albert was terrific, turning aside all nine shots he faced, and the Oil Barons earned the split to wrap up their home stand.
Fort McMurray has a quick turnaround as they embark on a southern road trip consisting of four games in five nights. It starts Tuesday at the Drumheller Memorial Arena, when they take on the Drumheller Dragons. Puck drop is at 7pm.
