(pictured, L-R: Jackson McKinstry, Anthony Orubor, Mark Drohan)
FORT MCMURRAY, AB (April 22, 2014) – The Fort McMurray Oil Barons are delighted to announce the commitment of 1996-born forwards Jackson McKinstry (Calgary, AB) and Anthony Orubor (Calgary, AB), as well as 1998-born defenceman Mark Drohan (Calgary, AB), all graduates of the Calgary Buffaloes of the Alberta AAA Midget Hockey League (AMHL), to the Oil Barons organization for the 2014-15 Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) season.
The 18-year old McKinstry led the Buffaloes in scoring this past season with 18 goals and 23 assists for 41 points in 35 AMHL games played. There were only seven players province-wide who scored more points on the season than did McKinstry, who checks in at 6’0” and 170 pounds. McKinstry also ranked seventh in the AMHL in playoffscoring, with 2 goals and 7 assists in just 8 games played. In all, McKinstry recorded 55 points (24 goals, 31 assists) in 47 games in a Buffaloes uniform this past season.
“Jackson is highly-touted and very popular,” said Oil Barons head scout Doug Hergeinhein. “There were a lot of teams that were very interested in him, as one of the top 10 scorers in the AMHL, and we expect some big things out of him.”
Orubor, 18, placed third on the Buffaloes in AMHL scoring, second on his team in goal-scoring, and fifteenth overall in Alberta in points, with 16 goals and 17 assists for 33 points in only 29 games played. He subsequently chipped in 3 more goals and an assist in 8 playoff games. Orubor stands 6’3” tall and 180 pounds in weight.
“He’s a big kid; we called him ‘the Train’ at camp,” said Hergenhein. “He’s a kid that just gives you 180 percent, both sides of the ice, and protects the puck very well, and can contribute on the scoreboard.”
Last, but certainly not least, the Oil Barons are pleased to receive the commitment of 15-year old defenceman Mark Drohan, who will celebrate his 16th birthday in just over a week. Despite being the second-youngest player on the Buffaloes, Drohan’s stature at 6’2” and 165 pounds helped him play well beyond his years and catch the eye of the Oil Barons staff. Two seasons ago, Drohan scored 15 points in 28 games for the Calgary Bisons Bantam AAA squad, while dressing for 3 games for the CBHA Blackhawks Minor Midget AAA team, before bypassing straight to the Midget squad this past season and potting a total of 6 goals and 11 assists in 41 total games.
“He’s a very smart kid; he reads the ice well, with good vision for the game,” said Hergenhein. “He can play like an eighteen-year old now; he’s got the intelligence to play the game.”
“He moves the puck well; he played power play with the Buffaloes organization and did very well; he just has that ability to read the ice better than a lot of sixteen year olds.”
The Oil Barons would like to welcome Jackson, Anthony, and Mark, as well as their families, to the organization, and the Fort McMurray community.
All three of the new recruits are expected to join the Oil Barons for the organization’s July Camp in St. Albert.
The Fort McMurray Oil Barons will also host the 2015 Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup next April and May.
