The Bobcats were unable to start off 2014 with a win, as they fell to Fort McMurray 5-0 on Friday night.
The ‘Cats kicked off 2014 with a pair of road games against Fort McMurray, coming into the game the third place 19-16-4 Bobcats closed out the 2013 calendar year with a 5-3 loss in Canmore. Meanwhile Fort McMurray was sitting at 35-5-3 on the season, 2 points behind Spruce Grove for 1st in the league. The last time these two teams met was just three weeks ago where the Bobcats scored the first and last goals of the game, but fell 4-2 to the Oil Barons in Fort McMurray.
Fort McMurray would take the lead one minute into the game as Alex Cromwell threw one on net for the corner to beat Devin Green, 1-0 Oil Barons. After 20 minutes it remained 1-0 Fort McMurray, also leading on the shot chart 10-6.
The second period didn’t have much for goals, but one would finally get through on the score-sheet as the Oil Barons would make it 2-0 as a puck popped up in front for Adam Durkee. With 40 minutes in the books, Bobcats down 2-0. Shots in the period favoured the Oil Barons 12-10.
Oil Barons Jetlan Houcher would add two goals near the start of the 3rd period to make it 4-0 for Fort McMurray. After the pair of goals against, Devin Green would be relieved by Sean Kuehn. Then Oil Barons Austin Yadlowski would shoot one along the boards where it was deflected by the glass to make it 5-0 Fort McMurray. That’s how the first of two games between these two would end, 5-0 final score in favour of the Fort McMurray Oil Barons.
The Bobcats had a tough time on the ice and on the scoreboard tonight. Coach/GM Garry VanHereweghe felt this was a poor effort by a Jr. A Team. “We had one good scoring opportunity in the entire game, a last minute wrap around that never found its way over the goal line. We are going to have to play with a lot more desire and energy if we want leave Fort McMurray with any points after tomorrow nights rematch.”
After the loss the Bobcats move to 19-17-4 on the season, with a two point lead over Sherwood Park for 3rd place in the North Division standings.
Next up the Bobcats go right back at it tomorrow night in Fort McMurray against these very same Oil Barons at 8:00 PM.