Fort McMurray extended their point streak to four games after splitting a weekend set with the reigning national champion Calgary Canucks. Justin Dumais and Jaxen Gauchier each had four point weekends, Ryan Arnold and Drew Freer put up three points each, while Noah Kelly scored his first career AJHL goal.
The two teams opened up the weekend series with a back and forth, 14 goal game on Saturday. Fort McMurray erased four Canucks’ leads and topped the reigning national champions 8-6. Justin Dumais had a four point night, Ryan Arnold and Jaxen Gauchier each had three points, while Berney Wetson got the win in goal. Calgary opened the scoring with one of their four power-play goals. Callum McSherry one-timed a shot into the top corner for his second goal of the season. The Oil Barons responded with a power-play marker of their own. A Patani Mutambo point shot was deflected in front and Jaxen Gauchier got his second goal of the campaign. Calgary restored their lead a couple minutes later. Off a face-off win, Kale McCann let a shot go from the blue-line that found its way through, for the Cochrane, Alberta product’s second goal of the year. The MOB found a quick response. Spencer Kunz’s point shot bounced off a defender’s stick and fooled Noah Nelson, knotting the game at 2-2. Another power-play goal saw the Canucks take the lead before the end of the first period. Wade Wallace set up Harper Lolacher for another one-timer that beat Weston, to make it 3-2. Early in the second period, Calgary found a little bit of insurance. On yet another power-play, Conner Radke would find the back of the net making it 4-2 Canucks. But the Oil Barons dug deep to respond. An expert Leo Adams’ seem pass found Ryan Arnold for his team leading sixth goal of the season, then 41 seconds later, Noah Kelly scored his first career AJHL goal, and the game was tied at 4-4. Calgary took their fourth lead of the night. Radke found a wide open Adam Halat in the slot, for the Canucks fourth power-play marker. The Oil Barons fought back once again. The MOB’s forecheck stole the puck, allowing Evan Benoit to find a wide open Adams, and the contest was even at 5-5. A little more than a minute later, Fort McMurray got their first lead of the night. A point shot by Ben Albers was kicked aside by Nelson, and the captain, Drew Freer, fought off two defenders to steer home the loose puck. Fort McMurray earned a little bit of insurance early in the third period. Justin Dumais’ shot snuck its way through Nelson for the team’s third power-play goal of the night, giving the Oil Barons a 7-5 lead. Calgary struck back. Grant Reid picked out Radke, for the former Kamloops Blazer’s second goal of the night, drawing the Canucks within one. However, less than 30 seconds later, Dumais restored the Oil Barons two goal advantage. Arnold’s backhand was stopped by Nelson, but the rebound slid to the Longueuil, Quebec product, who slammed home his second goal of the night. The 8-6 scoreline would hold to the final buzzer.
Sunday’s game was a lot tighter defensively, with chances far and few between. Fort McMurray opened the scoring just 21 seconds in. A weird bounce off of Cade Petersen eluded Sartaj Dhami, for Petersen’s first goal of the season. The Canucks responded early in the first period. After the Barons were unable to clear their zone, Josh Kelly found a wide open Nicholas Anisimovicz for a power-play marker, equalizing the game at 1-1. Fort McMurray restored their advantage late in the first. A terrific breakout saw Lucas McDonald push the puck into the path of Drew Freer, and the captain snapped home his fourth goal of the campaign, making it 2-1. There was no scoring in the second period, although the Canucks came close. Ryan Arnold saved a goal after a shot ricocheted off both Logan Cunningham and Cody Nordstrom, before being pulled off the goal line by the veteran forward. Finally, after several chances, Calgary tied the game midway through the third period. Lochlan Tetarenko labeled a shot into the top corner from the goal line, pushing the game into overtime. Both teams almost found the back of the net early in the extra frame. Arnold was denied on a breakaway by Dhami, while Cunningham robbed Tetarenko in tight. However, with a little more than a minute remaining, the Canucks got a break. After Mutambo was hauled to ice, Dylan Woulds set up Conner Radke for the game winner, and Calgary walked away victorious 3-2.
The Oil Barons will turn their attention to a northern foe next weekend. Grande Prairie comes to town for three games in three nights. It starts Friday at 7pm, Saturday’s game goes at 7pm as well, while Sunday’s begins at 2pm.
