SPRUCE GROVE, AB (September 27, 2014) – Jackson McKinstry (Calgary, AB) scored his first goal as an Oil Baron with just 33 seconds left in regulation, as the Fort McMurray Oil Barons (7-3) completed a comeback and beat the Calgary Canucks (3-5) by a 3-2 final in their conclusion of the AJHL Showcase on Saturday afternoon.
The Barons opened the scoring 15 minutes into the game when Adam Durkee (Nederland, CO) blasted a slap shot past Calgary netminder Malcolm Walilko from the left-wing faceoff circle. But the Canucks responded with just 25 seconds left in the first on an odd-man rush, when Matteo Milroy finished off a crisp passing play to beat Barons goaltender Jayden Sittler (Red Deer, AB).
There was no scoring in the second period, but it took only 75 seconds for the first goal of the third, when former Oil Baron forward Hayden Dawes centered a puck to Calgary captain Trent Geiger, who scored from the slot to give the Canucks their first lead of the game.
The Barons would turn to Durkee again to tie it up, as the veteran MOB forward took a centering pass in the slot from teammate Mitch Vanderlaan (Hanwell, NB) and fired a shot past Walilko to tie the game with just 2:30 left in the period.
The game seemed destined for overtime until rookie forward Shawn Weber (Lloydminster, AB) battled his way past a Calgary defender along the side boards, and flung a puck in front on his backhand to the waiting McKinstry, who tipped it into the Calgary net for the dramatic finale with just 33 seconds showing on the game clock.
Sittler made 21 saves for his first win in his first start as an Oil Baron. The MOB went 0 for 6 on the power play but a perfect 3 for 3 on the penalty kill.
The Barons will return to action on the road this weekend, taking on the Spruce Grove Saints on Friday night at 7:00 PM, followed by the Whitecourt Wolverines on Saturday night at 7:30 PM.
KAOS 91.1 3 stars:
1. Adam Durkee (2 goals)
2. Jackson McKinstry (1 game-winning goal)
3. Trent Geiger (1 goal)