A goal was scored within at least 1:38 of each period tonight, with Jack Hamly putting the final punctuation mark on a fun night at the Civic Centre just 0:17 into overtime as the Fort McMurray Oil Barons dropped the Lloydminster Bobcats 4-3.
Will Middleton scored a pair of goals tonight and Wilson Northey brought the Teddy Bears down from the stands just 0:21 into the game for the Bobcats annual Teddy Bear Toss night, with all stuffed animals being donated to The Gift of Christmas in Lloydminster.
After Northey deflected a Zach Sherburne point shot to put the Cats ahead 1-0, the two teams failed to find the back of the net for the rest of the period as the home side went to the intermission with a 1-0 lead.
Just 1:01 into the second, Brandon Ralph got the MOB on the board as he finished off a slick passing play from JC Thivierge and Ryan Cox to draw level at 1-1. Ralph, playing his 20 year-old season with his hometown Oil Barons after spending three years in the Western Hockey League, notched his second of the night before the midway point of the second as he found room down the left wing to work in on Bobcats netminder Austin McGrath before sneaking a low shot past him.
The Bobcats stemmed the tide before the period was up as Chasetain Braid and Zach Webb battled to get the puck up the ice and onto the stick of Will Middleton, who roofed it past Josh Williams for his third goal of the season, and first in ten games.
Early in the third, the visitors regained the lead with Will Conley powering a shot through McGrath to make it 3-2. McGrath got a good chunk of the puck, but Conley put enough on it to find a way home for his 11th of the campaign.
Finding themselves trailing for the second time tonight, the Bobcats dug in and struck back when Zach Webb stole the puck from an Oil Barons defender behind the net before quickly dishing to Middleton, who put home his second of the night. From there the two teams locked in and forced overtime, setting the stage for Hamly's winner.
The Bobcats had four power play opportunities tonight, and came away empty handed, while the MOB didn't get a chance to run the league's top-ranked power play.
A big thank you goes out to Colby Jezowski who was tonight's 7th Man, joining the Bobcats on the ice ahead of puck drop. Also thank you to the Royal Hotel Lloydminster Novice Blazers, who had a scrimmage in front of all the fans during the first intermission.
The Cats have two more home games this week before heading out on the road for eight straight games to finish 2016. Catch the Grande Prairie Storm in town on Tuesday night, and the Brooks Bandits on Saturday. Puck drop for both games is 7:30.