For the first time this season, the Fort McMurray Oil Barons had the opportunity to play an AJHL regular season game in front of their hometown crowd. Unfortunately, that came at the expense of the Lloydminster Bobcats Friday night.
With 1,666 people in the Casman Centre, the Oil Barons came out of the gates fast and used their quick start to guide them to a 7-1 win over the Bobcats.
Ryan Cox and Tyler Petrie put Fort McMurray up 2-0 just over six minutes into the game. Oil Barons captain Shane Fraser then scored his first of the season to give the home-side a 3-0 lead after one.
Will Conley netted a short-handed goal to extend the lead to 4-0, however, the Bobcats would come back right away.
On the power-play, Reid Irwin put home his first AJHL goal and first as a Bobcat narrowing the Oil Barons advantage to 4-1.
The score remained 4-1 until the second half of the third period. Fort McMurray scored three goals in the final 6:26 of the game to put the contest out of reach and send the Bobcats to their third straight loss.
The Oil Barons went on to outshoot the Bobcats 31-23.
Lloydminster and Fort McMurray will do it all over again Saturday night from the Casman Centre.
Our broadcast will get underway at 7:15pm live on Real Country 95.9.
Of note: Cole Johnson made his Bobcats debut. After spending the past three seasons in the WHL, the Marwayne native saw his night cut short after getting into a fight with Liam Izyk 1:25 into the second. Also, Reese Jones had his first start in goal as a Bobcat. After allowing four goals on 16 shots, Reece Klassen took over in goal, who stopped 12 of 15 shots.