It was the battle of Alberta in the Western Canada Cup on Tuesday night.
Fort McMurray Oil Barons (1-1) vs. Spruce Grove Saints (0-2)
The Oil Barons would come from 4-0 down to defeat the Saints 5-4.
A wild first period saw a total of six goals between Spruce Grove and Fort McMurray. Tyler Busch (assists to Macklin Pichonsky and Parker Mackay @2:54) would send a rebound past Oil Barons (starting) goaltender Zach Fortin for his first of the tournament. On the power play, the Saints would extend their lead. Riley Simpson (assist to Colton Leiter @5:28) would redirect his second of the Western Canada Cup behind Fortin. Travis McEvoy (assist to Colton Leiter @8:38) wired his first of the cup past Fortin. While shorthanded Parker Mackay (assist to Tyler Busch @12:00) would one time his second of the tournament. Adam Durkee (assist to Austin Holmes @17:59) one-timed his first of the Western Canada Cup past Saints (starting) goaltender Matthew Murray. On the power play, Fort McMurray would get within two. Adam Durkee (assists to Brett McNeil and Trent Lofthouse @19:52) scored his second of the night with a wrist shot from the slot. Shots favored Spruce Grove 18-12.
The Oil Barons would score three second period goals to take a 5-4 lead. Another power play goal got Fort McMurray within one. Trent Lofthouse (assist to Luc Lalor @1:09) walked to the middle of the ice and snapped his second of the Western Canada Cup. Just 55 seconds later Isaac Ceh (unassisted @2:04) on a breakaway would flick his second of the WCC over the glove of Murray. A third power play goal by the Oil Barons would give them their first lead of the night. Adam Durkee (assists to Zach Wittenberg and Jetlan Houcher @5:02) one-timed his hat trick past the blocker of Murray. Shots favored Fort McMurray 11-10 in the third but were 28-23 Spruce Grove in the hockey game.
Neither team would be able to find the back of the net in the third. Shots favored the Oil Barons 11-8 in the third but were 36-34 Saints overall.
Elsewhere in the WCC Portage improved their record to 2-1 with a 3-2 win over the Penticton Vees, who saw their record fall to 2-1.
Story by Chris Colwell
@Cjcolwell