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Oil Barons outscored 8-7 in three games against Bobcats
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Lloydminster fails to score on the power-play
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MOB grab another point against RBC Cup hosts
It’s not even December yet and there’s yards and yards of hockey to be played but a first round play-off match-up between the Fort McMurray Oil Barons and Lloydminster Bobcats would be as entertaining as a high-flying trapeze act.
The Bobcats came away with their second straight win over the MOB on home ice in back-to-back games, but it wasn’t easy. Lloydminster was down 2-1 following the first, and fought back from another one-goal deficit in the third to send the game in overtime for an eventual 4-3 win.
Through three of six games in the season series the Bobcats have taken two of the games, outscoring the Oil Barons by just an 8-7 margin.
“I thought our guys were great, I thought we battled extremely hard, I’m extremely proud of everybody in the dressing room because we’ve got injuries, our players gutted one out today and got a well-deserved point I believe,” said MOB Head Coach Tom Keca. “We’re just a team that can’t make a mistake.”
That mistake was a missed read in the three-on-three overtime that allowed Kris Spriggs to walk in untouched coming out of the high slot and fire a backhand shot past Ravi Dattani, who was once more the best Oil Baron.
Otherworldly goaltending
He [Dattani] was phenomenal again tonight and he’s the ultimate professional because he doesn’t say anything, he sits there and nods his head, he comes in with his lunch pail and his hard hat. He’s a typical Fort McMurray kid, works his arse off every single day with [Goaltender Coach Mike Brodeur] before practice. He’s never complained, he’s never asked for anything. We’re so fortunate to have him he’s a great player and a great kid.”
Dattani stopped 29 of 33 shots faced tonight, and added an impressive assist on Connor McCallum’s second period power-play marker. From his goal line Dattani railed puck to Tanner Miller at the Bobcats blue-line, Miller wound up feeding a streaking McCallum in front.
Young guns rising
The Oil Barons played the Bobcats tight over the two game set without three of their top five scorers, Landon Welykholowa and Jackson McKinstry were hurt and Mark Drohan got recalled by the Tri-City Americans of the WHL. As well tonight they had to do without Cody Hodgson was hurt himself in yesterday’s game, in his place the Oil Barons called up MacKenzie Mindus from the Knights of Columbus Pats of the AMHL. In his first Junior ‘A’ game Mindus opened the scoring on his very first shot just 8:51 in.
“Mac was obviously somebody who had a great pre-season with us, made our decision at that time very difficult. I thought he was great it was a simple play, get the puck to the net and great things will happen,” said Keca.
Along with Mindus drawing into the line-up Dylan Rauh played a top six role this weekend and was impressive both nights. Shane Fraser and Jason Hamilton found themselves on the third line. It’s a good sign for a rebuilding Oil Barons team that’s counting on these players to become the players of the future sooner rather than later.
“When we recruit kids one of the things we tell them is ‘you’re going to get an opportunity to play’. Because when we get into January and February and you’re on the road and you don’t get last change and you’re looking down on the bench as a coach and you can’t put those kids out then you haven’t done your job as a coaching staff.”
Shawn Weber scored his fourth of the year giving the MOB a 2-0 lead 16:24 into the first period it was his first Junior ‘A’ goal in his home town. Noah Bauld, Taylor Mulder, Christian Lloyd and of course Spriggs scored for the Bobcats.
The Oil Barons were out-shot 33-20, with Alex Leclerc making 17 saves on 20 shots for Gord Thibodeau’s Bobcats.
Fort McMurray went one-for-one on the power-play, the Bobcats failed to score on their only power-play opportunity.
Bonnyville and Grande Prairie visit the Casman Centre on Thursday and Friday respectively this week.
