Story Coming In:
The Oil Barons stumbled their way into the Play In series. Losing three games in a row, Fort McMurray was outscored 17-5. The bright spot of the week was Simon Gaul being named the AJHL Rookie of Week, however, scoring was at a premium in their final weekend series against Grande Prairie. Fort McMurray will also head into the Play In Series without the services of three of their top players, as Carter Schmidt, Demitri DiFlorio and Noah Heinrich have all been suspended for the first two games. However, the prevailing hope for the Oil Barons is their regular season success against the Eagles. Fort McMurray won the season series taking three of the five games. Carter Schmidt led the offense with nine points, Vincent Lamanna had seven points against Canmore, while both Noah Nelson and Gage Stewart registered wins against the Eagles. If the Oil Barons can stick to their systems and the formula for success, then they can find a berth into Round One of the Inter Pipeline Cup playoffs.
View From Canmore:
Canmore are flying high entering the Play In Series. With points in five of their last six games, punctuated by a dominant 7-2 win on the road against Camrose in the regular season finale, the Eagles have momentum on their side. One player who has been on a roll for the Bow Valley boys is Rhett Dekowny. The forward from Swift Current has nine points in five games, while also scoring three goals against the Oil Barons in the season series. Several players for Canmore had success against the Oil Barons offensively. Brody Tallman and Ethan Look both lead the way with six points, while Logan Ziegler and Nathan McPherson-Ridgewell have five points each. The biggest question mark may be who starts in goal for the Eagles. Matthew Malin played the last two games against Fort McMurray, where he split the weekend series while posting 3.93 goals against average and a .893 save percentage, while Matthew Kieper also has a win against Fort McMurray, while possessing a 3.00 goals against average and a .912 save percentage in two games.
Stats Leaders For Fort McMurray:
Goals: Gaul (21)
Assists: Lamanna (24)
Points: Schmidt (40)
PIM: Schmidt (148)
Goalies: Nelson: 6-11-1-2, 4.10 GAA, 0.898%, 1 SO
Stewart: 4-8-0-0, 4.90 GAA, .873%