Man for man the Fort McMurray Oil Barons are one of the weaker teams in the AJHL and I have seen them all so far. Last game the Bulldogs lost to the Oil Barons you could soley pit the loss on Gabe Gratton. This game was different. Oil Barons did play better than last game but again the Bulldogs played noticeably better.
Fort Mac opened up the scoring when Kelowna, BC native Carter Schmidt scored 2:56 seconds into the game with the assist to Saskatoon native Liam Rodman. Schmidt was team mates with Bulldog Wilson Maxfield when they were younger in minor hockey together in Kelowna. He was also in goal when Schmidt scored.
Bulldogs very much outplaying the Oil Barons big time in the first period.
Tons of chances for Blackfalds again in the second. Shooting it at Gratton lots though just needed better quality shots. Gratton did play well with help from the Bulldogs.
Bulldogs got a penalty 12 minutes into the second period when the Bulldogs intentionally pushed the net off when Maxfield was in trouble. You couldn’t really even deny that it was very obvious. Plus your on camera. Always on camera and there are 2 refs now and most of the time those refs are sober. It’s hard to get away with alot.
The Oil Barons scored while on that Power Play when Winnipeg native Rylan Ringor scored his 5th of the season from Carter Schmidt and former Bonnyville Pontiac Noah Henrich at 12:45 of the middle period to make it 2-0 Oil Barons.
Shots in the second period were 11-9 Oil Barons.
Hunter Brown was on the ice hurt so the ref gives Bulldogs a penalty🤷‍♂️. Looked hurt but did return to the game later. A few seconds later the ref who probably knew he would be on video review for his last crap call gave the Oil Barons a penalty which was just as crappy and made no sense🤷‍♂️.
Brendan Ross scored his 20th goal of the season with 4:07 remaining in the game deflecting a David Brandes shot to get the Bulldogs within 1.
Gabe Gratton made 26 stops on the 27 shots he faced for the win. While Wilson Maxfield stopped 19 of 21 shots for the Bulldogs.
The whole Bulldogs D line minus an American tonight is from Ontario. There gate keeper on the door is also from Ontario as it is Morrow. Tanner Willick is out due to injury.
Attendance in Fort McMurray was 1,066. Lots of in attendance from Keyano College. I never knew they had a college in Fort McMurray.
Bulldogs next game is Wednesday night in Bonnyville against the Pontiacs. Their next home game is Saturday November 25th against the Spruce Grove Saints at 6pm.
In Other games on Tuesday night the Drayton Valley Thunder beat the Spruce Grove Saints 1-0
