North Finals Game 7 Spruce Grove vs. Fort McMurray (series tied 3-3)
It’s what every young hockey player dreams of, playing game seven and scoring that winning goal (usually in overtime).
For the second consecutive round the Spruce Grove Saints and Fort McMurray Oil Barons will have to play game seven.
Both teams went the distance in the North Semi Finals series (Spruce Grove vs. Sherwood Park, Fort McMurray vs. Lloydminster).
The Oil Barons at one point held a three to one series lead but were unable to close out the series in games five or six.
Two years ago Fort McMurray defeated Spruce Grove in game seven of the North Division finals in Spruce Grove and now they find themselves back in the same situation two years later.
It’s like déjà vu for the both teams, the Oil Barons who went through the same thing last round against the Bobcats, as for the Saints they were always trailing the Crusaders last round until they were able to win game seven at home.
The key for both teams to win game seven will be to dictate the play, the Oil Barons dictated games one, two,and four, while the Saints dictated games Thrfive and six.
Fort McMurray is 1-2 (win was in 2012 North Finals at Spruce Grove) on the road and 3-2 in game sevens since 2006.
Spruce Grove is 2-1 at home and 3-1 in game sevens since 2006.
Fort McMurray is 1-4 on the road when facing elimination, while the Saints are 5-1 at home when facing elimination.
The winner of tonight's game will join the Drumheller Dragons in the Gas Drive Cup Finals.
By the numbers in the post season:
Team leaders:
Goals:
• Fort McMurray: Kevin Miller 8
• Spruce Grove: Jarid Hauptman and Carson Samoridny 7
Assists:
• Fort McMurray: Kevin Miller and Mitchell Vanderlann 7
• Spruce Grove: Cameron Hughes 12
Points:
• Fort McMurray: Kevin Miller 15
• Spruce Grove: Cameron Hughes 13
Goaltenders:
• Fort McMurray: Tanner Jaillet (10-6) 2.36 GAA 0.919 save % Jesse Gordichuk (0-0) 3.00 GAA 0.929 save %
• Spruce Grove: Kenny Cameron (5-4) 2.43 GAA 0.899 save % Tanner McCorriston (2-2) 2.84 GAA 0.878 save %
By the period Fort McMurray Spruce Grove
Scoring 1st 7-2-1 4-1-1
Not scoring 1st 3-3 3-2-2
Tied after 1st 6-1-1 1-2-3
Leading after 1st 3-2 4-0
Trailing after 1st 1-2 2-1
Tied after 2nd 5-1 1-1
Leading after 2nd 4-0-1 5-0-1
Trailing after 2nd 1-4 0-2-2
Story by Chris Colwell