FORT MCMURRAY, AB (March 26, 2021) – The goals came fast and furious at Centerfire Place on Friday night.
The Fort McMurray Oil Barons scored six goals in the first period and Fort McMurray’s Jesse Burchart scored a hattrick to propel the Oil Barons to a 10-4 win over the Spruce Grove Saints.
With the win, the Oil Barons have won four consecutive games and lead 4-1 in the teams’ eight game AJHL Return to Play Series.
On the heels of being named the AJHL’s Player of the Week two weeks ago, Hunter Lamb continued his scoring ways by getting the MOB on the board at 3:15 of the 1st period.
Aidan Moore would then extend the lead to 2-0 less than a minute later off a shot from in tight on Saints goaltender Thomas Couture. For the rookie Moore, it was his first AJHL goal after singing with the Oil Barons last summer.
The Oil Barons continued to find the net when Jesse Burchart scored his first of the night by picking the top right-hand corner of the net at 8:14 off a pass from Lucas Jones, while Rider McCallum added another goal with a point shot on the powerplay at 9:29 to make it 4-0.
The Saints would get on the board at 12:03 of the period when Jake Aston found a loose puck in the Oil Barons crease to tuck it behind Evan Fradette.
However, it was the Oil Barons that continued to respond offensively. Aidan Moore scored his second goal of the night at 13:32 on yet another scramble in the crease to make it 5-1, and a Lucas Jones point shot directed off Michael Hodge’s chest to make it 6-1.The goal marked the third consecutive game in which Hodge has registered a goal, adding to his league-leading 17th point in nine regular season games this season.
Brett Pfoh would add another goal for the Saints before the end of the period, capping off an eight goal period which saw the Oil Barons lead 6-2.
To open the 2nd period, Hassan Akl deflected a puck past Thomas Couture to make it 7-1 within the period’s opening minutes.
At 6:58, Brett Pfoh would score his second of the night to make it 7-2, before Jesse Burchart would add his second of the night by making a highlight reel move on a penalty shot to make it 8-3.
In the 3rd period, Graham Gamache would score to make it 8-4, but goals by Hunter Lamb and Jesse Burchart to complete the hattrick would make it a final score of 10-4 for the Oil Barons.
Both teams will meet again Sunday afternoon in Spruce Grove to continue the series. You can catch the game live on HockeyTV beginning at 4 p.m. or on Country 93.3 starting with the pre-game show at 3:45.