Spring Camps
Departures
Eight Oil Barons graduated from the junior hockey ranks last season. Up front, the MOB lost the services of captain Danny Akkouche, Mason Finley, Charles-Olivier Villeneuve and Carter Schmidt. All four were in the team's top six for points, combining for 145 points in 177 games played. Lots of leadership was also lost between these four. Again, Akkouche was the team captain, Finley was the captain of the Devon Xtreme before joining the Oil Barons via trade, and before the season began many players viewed Schmidt as the favorite to being team captain. Three defenders graduated in Shawn Eliav, Tristan Taylor and Alexis Beaulac. Eliav was beginning to find his groove towards the end of the year as an effective offensive defender (part of the new AJHL record for fastest two goals by a single team). Taylor will be headed to NAIT to begin his studies after joining Fort McMurray through a trade with Olds. Meanwhile, Beaulac is headed to Nipissing University in North Bay, Ontario along with Akkouche. The biggest loss for the Oil Barons will be its team MVP, Vincent Filion, who is headed to UQTR. Filion was an absolute workhorse for the MOB, earning a league MVP nomination in the process. It's hard to imagine last year's team without him. There are potentially a couple more departures. Louis-Charles Cunningham requested a trade to be closer to home. Cody Nordstrom and Dustin Good could hit the university ranks this upcoming season and forgo their final junior hockey season but that is not set in stone, while Justin Dumais worked hard to rebuild his reputation and should return to the QMJHL.
Returnees
Fort McMurray could have up to 16 returning players for next season. Most teams would see that as a reason to go all in for a championship, but with the hockey operations staff up in the air, that number could drop significantly as the MOB determine which direction they want to go in. Two players who seem certain to return are forwards Ryan Arnold and Drew Freer. Despite going cold through the final two months of the regular season, Arnold will be leaned on heavily to take his offence to the next level in his final season of junior hockey. Freer is a glue guy in the locker room who surely will wear a letter on his chest. With over 350 games of experience between the two players, Arnold and Freer have seen it all which will be valuable to a potentially younger team. The Oil Barons also have an intriguing group of forwards who could return for their sophomore seasons. Cade Petersen and Leo Adams promise to be offensive juggernauts in the AJHL, should they take the next step in their progression. Reis Nyland and Griffin Gidney could become everyday grinders on the team who can play hard minutes, spark their team and chip in with about 20-30 points this season. Nolan Eastwood's progression at the end of the season was impressive and he should be an everyday player that can be a penalty kill specialist with the potential to put up 35-40 points if given the opportunity. Meanwhile, Trennen Redlick could also become an everyday player and be that power forward the MOB needs while chipping in with 20 points. The defence will be led by the return of Spencer Kunz and Patani Mutambo. Kunz will continue to be the team's top shut down defender, who could hit the 20 point plateau, while Mutambo is the team's best offensive threat from the back. Both are terrific skaters and will provide stability on a unit that could be facing a lot of question marks heading into the new season.
Prospects
The young guns who stood out over the two weekends were the players who signed letters of intent to the Oil Barons. Evan Benoit will be a good player in the AJHL. His hockey IQ is through the charts and he immediately elevates the play of those around him. Benjamin Morton will be a steady defender. While he may not pop off on the offence, Morton will quietly be an excellent shutdown defender in a couple of seasons. Chase Campbell is another exciting prospect. A player who takes pride in his own zone, but has a nose for the net. Campbell will be a center that at his best, can match up against the opponent's top lines and neutralize them, while putting up 60-70 points. Local kid, Dawson Butler, was a stand out in Beaumont. Unfortunately for the Barons, he probably will not start the season in Fort McMurray. Having signed an LOI in the SJHL with the La Ronge Ice Wolves, the MOB will miss his creativity, and like Benoit, his ability to elevate the players around him.
Fort McMurray has a very interesting dilemma. If they want to focus on player development, they could go young. Cash Brebant is a 2009-born kid from Fort McMurray, who is drafted and signed by the Portland Winterhawks. The skill from the OHA product is off the charts. Despite being one of the youngest players, he was one of the best and could have an Easton Daneault-like effect on the Barons. Hayden Iron Shirt is another player that could have an impact, should the Lethbridge Hurricanes feel like he needs an expanded role at the Junior A level. Goaltender Sergio Davidson and defender Braydon Riggall are other kids eyeing WHL roles, but could find a place with the Oil Barons if they require an extra year or two of seasoning before making the jump. Meanwhile, Oliver Bryks is a 2009-born goaltender who is advanced beyond his years. If he doesn't make the Vancouver Giants over the next two seasons, he will be a star in the AJHL.
There were a few surprises at the spring camps. The Deakin twins from Sherwood Park were described as relentless. While their stats won't jump out at you, their work ethic will make them excellent shut down forwards that are valued by their teams. Emery Medicine Shield was a late add-on that formed a tremendous bond with Iron Shirt. He has a knack for finding the soft areas in the offensive zone, while scouts felt like he could be an excellent penalty killer as well. Hunter Colombe is another local kid who may be a year away from joining the Oil Barons. Colombe has excellent offensive instincts, while also providing plenty of grit for someone his size. Think Nolan Eastwood. Aedan McCarry and Tristan Van Olm are younger brothers of WHL stars. Both were terrific in creating chances and could be the next wave of offensive stars in the AJHL. Finally, Avan Mah is an Alberta Elite Hockey League champion. He is a smooth skating defender, capable of quarterbacking the power-play in the future, and could make the team as soon as this season.
Upcoming Season
The first thing the incoming coaching staff needs to determine is which direction will they take this team. Returning players may determine this direction. If Dustin Good, Cody Nordstrom and Justin Dumais elect to return, don't be surprised if the team adds some veterans to compete for a championship. If they don't, the team could bring in several rookies including some local talent, and focus on player development. The biggest question mark of them all is what will the Barons do in goal. Gavin Melcher will be an overager with no starting experience at the Junior A level. It would not be surprising if the MOB brought in a veteran starter to solidify the position, while also mentoring a rookie backup like Sergio Davidson or Oliver Bryks. Where that veteran will come from is yet to be seen. The Barons could find an overager at the major junior ranks (think Alex Worthington or Rhett Stoesser for example) or they could find a trade partner at the Junior A level. Or maybe the team feels confident in giving Melcher a shot at being a starter in his final season. Either way, a new coaching staff will have their hands full determining the direction of this franchise and building a game plan to guide them down that path.
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