The Whitecourt Wolverines put an end to the Fort McMurray Oil Barons eight game winning streak with a 3-1 win Saturday night. The Oil Barons were held to just a single goal for the first time this season in the loss.
The Wolverines (9-4-3) out hit and out skated the MOB (12-3-0) throughout the first two periods, dominating on the shot clock 24-13 and leading 2-0.
With the teams scoreless late in the first period, Stevie Bryant drove wide around the MOB goal sliding the puck into the crease. Ben Evanish was stopped by Eric Szudor but the rebound popped out to Dawson Bruneski who buried his first goal of the year to give the Wolverines the lead with three seconds left in the period.
In the second, it was the Wolverines taking advantage of a MOB giveaway to double their lead. Jaedon Leslie hopped on a loose puck and ripped a shot past the blocker arm of Szudor to make it 2-0 at 14:49. Justin Young and Joseph Nardi drew the assists.
With the MOB’s eight game winning streak on the line, the team found some life in the final frame. Taner Miller fired a shot from the point that was tipped in the slot by Jarred White and fooled Pierce Diamond to cut the lead in half at 7:36. The goal was White’s third of the year.
The MOB continued to press and hemmed the Wolverines deep in their zone for a full two minutes and fired eight shots on Diamond but could not beat the former Bobcat. Diamond made 28 saves in the win while Szudor stopped 31 Wolverine shots.
With the MOB net empty in the final minute, Nardi knocked down a pass in the neutral zone and walked in alone, sliding home his third goal of the season with seven seconds left to give the home side the victory.
Next up for the MOB is a battle of the top two teams in the North Division as the Oil Barons take on the Saints in Spruce Grove. Pre-game show starts at 1:45 p.m. on Country 93.3 with Taylor Pope.
Written by Taylor Pope, mymcmurray.com.
Photo taken by Dan Lines on January 16, 2016.