Fort McMurray Oil Barons


The Fort McMurray Oil Barons are a Junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada at the Casman Centre. The Oil Barons have won three AJHL playoff championships, three regular season titles, and one National Junior A Championship.

History

The team first played in the 1981–82 season as an expansion franchise the Alberta Junior Hockey League and is one of the more successful teams in the league having won three league titles and has appeared in the league finals 12 times. In 2000, the Oil Barons hosted the Royal Bank Cup and won the National Junior A Championship.
In November 2010, the Oil Barons hosted the Northern Classic against the Drayton Valley Thunder as the first known outdoor game in AJHL history and set the league's attendance record.
In August 2011, the Oil Barons traveled to Omsk, Russia, to play in the Junior Club World Cup tournament hosted by teams of their top tier Junior Hockey League. On August 26, the Oil Barons defeated Mytishchi Atlantes 4–2 in an exhibition game. On August 27, the Oil Barons played 2011 Russian Champion Red Army in another exhibition game, losing 7–0. The tournament ran from August 30 until September 4. On August 30, Fort McMurray played Belarus's Dinamo-Shinnik and lost 3–0, on August 31 Sweden's Malmö Redhawks and lost 3–2, and September 2 they lost to the Czech Republic's Energie Karlovy Vary 4–1; for a 0–3 record and finishing last in their division. These teams are all top tier European clubs, while Fort McMurray are members of the Canadian Junior Hockey League, the second highest level of Canadian junior hockey behind the major junior Canadian Hockey League.
In the summer of 2014, after one of the best regular seasons in franchise history, the Oil Barons released head coach and general manager Gord Thibodeau. After a lengthy search, the Barons hired former Ottawa Senators' assistant coach Curtis Hunt to replace him. Hunt added former Senators goalie Mike Brodeur to the staff as the team's new goaltending and video coach.
In 2015, the Oil Barons hosted the third Western Canada Cup, earning an automatic berth in the tournament against the champions of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, with two spots open to qualify for the Royal Bank Cup Junior A national championship tournament. They were eliminated in the semifinal game by the Melfort Mustangs at the 2015 Western Canada Cup.
On May 10, 2019, the Oil Barons agreed to mutually part ways with general manager and head coach Tom Keca. On May 17, 2019, the team announced that Dave Dupas had been hired as the head coach and general manager for the 2019–20 season. Dupas had been with the Oil Barons organization since 2015 as an assistant coach after previously serving as head coach of the Prince George Spruce Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League.

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T/OTL = Ties/Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
SeasonGPWLT/OTLSOLPtsGFGAFinishPlayoffs
1981–826031290622962962nd NorthWon Quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders
Lost Semifinals, 0–4 vs. St. Albert Saints
1982–836038220763243082nd NorthWon Quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders
Won Semifinals, 4–1 vs. St. Albert Saints
Lost Finals, 2–4 vs. Calgary Canucks
1983–846024351492553154th NorthLost Quarterfinals, 0–4 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders
1984–85609510182043864th NorthDid not qualify
1985–865216360322433174th NorthWon Quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. St. Albert Saints
Lost Semifinals, 1–4 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders
1986–876030282623002923rd NorthLost Quarterfinals, 2–4 vs. St. Albert Saints
1987–886019410382443564th NorthLost Quarterfinals, 2–4 vs. St. Albert Saints
1988–896010473231803345th NorthDid not qualify
1989–906033243692782731st NorthLost Quarterfinals, 0–4 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders
1990–915620324442472837th OverallWon Quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. St. Albert Saints
Lost Semifinals, 0–4 vs. Calgary Royals
1991–926038184803122633rd OverallWon Quarterfinals, 4–3 vs. Calgary Canucks
Won Semifinals, 4–3 vs. Lloydminster Blazers
Lost Finals, 1–4 vs. Olds Grizzlys
1992–935633221672932384th OverallWon Quarterfinals, 5–0 vs. Lloydminster Blazers
Lost Semifinals, 0–4 vs. Olds Grizzlys
1993–945629225632512144th OverallWon Quarterfinals, 4–3 vs. Calgary Canucks
Won Semifinals, 4–2 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders
Lost Finals, 2–4 vs. Olds Grizzlys
1994–955631205672582213rd OverallWon Quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. Calgary Royals
Lost Semifinals, 3–4 vs. Calgary Canucks
1995–966035196762572035th OverallWon Quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders
Won Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Calgary Canucks
Lost Finals, 3–4 vs. St. Albert Saints
1996–976034224722411804th OverallWon Quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Olds Grizzlys
Won Semifinals, 4–2 vs. St. Albert Saints
Won AJHL Championship, 4–3 vs. Calgary Canucks
Lost Doyle Cup, 1–4 vs. South Surrey Eagles
1997–986036213752262165th OverallLost Quarterfinals, 0–4 vs. Calgary Canucks
1998–996231283652472676th NorthDid not qualify
1999–0064521021063211691st NorthWon Quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs
Won Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Lloydminster Blazers
Won AJHL Championship, 4–0 vs. Camrose Kodiaks
Won Doyle Cup, 4–1 vs. Chilliwack Chiefs
Won Royal Bank Cup
2000–016437225792872614th NorthWon Preliminary series, 3–1 vs. Lloydminster Blazers
Lost Quarterfinals, 2–4 vs. Drayton Valley Thunder
2001–026436208802171984th NorthLost Preliminary series, 0–3 vs. Grande Prairie Storm
2002–036419414422062868th NorthDid not qualify
2003–0460292011691821513rd NorthWon Preliminary series, 3–2 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs
Won Quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. Drayton Valley Thunder
Won Semifinals, 4–2 vs. Camrose Kodiaks
Lost Finals, 1–4 vs. Grande Prairie Storm
2004–056443165911921171st NorthWon Quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. Grande Prairie Storm
Won Semifinals, 4–2 vs. Drayton Valley Thunder
Lost Finals, 3–4 vs. Camrose Kodiaks
2005–066040146862021101st NorthWon Quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs
Won Semifinals, 4–0 vs. Brooks Bandits
Won AJHL Championship, 4–2 vs. Camrose Kodiaks
Lost Doyle Cup, 2–4 vs. Burnaby Express
2006–076025278581701965th NorthWon Preliminary series, 3–1 vs. Drayton Valley Thunder
Lost Quarterfinals, 0–4 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders
2007–086240148882381681st NorthWon Quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs
Won Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Spruce Grove Saints
Lost Finals, 3–4 vs. Camrose Kodiaks
2008–096231265672081885th NorthWon Div. Quarterfinals, 3–1 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs
Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints
2009–106037191782351683rd NorthWon Div. Quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. St. Albert Steel
Won Div. Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Grande Prairie Storm
Won Div. Finals, 4–1 vs. Okotoks Oilers
Lost Finals, 3–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints
2010–116043161872191392nd NorthWon Div. Quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. St. Albert Steel
Won Div. Semifinals, 4–2 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs
Lost Div. Finals, 0–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints
2011–12604794982541262nd NorthWon Div. Quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Grande Prairie Storm
Won Div. Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders
Won Div. Finals, 4–3 vs. Spruce Grove Saints
Lost Finals, 2–4 vs. Brooks Bandits
2012–136031227691691705th NorthLost Div. Quarterfinals, 1–3 vs. Whitecourt Wolverines
2013–146045114942161252nd NorthWon Div. Quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Drayton Valley Thunder
Won Div. Semifinals, 4–3 vs. Lloydminster Bobcats
Lost Div. Finals, 3–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints
2014–156031236681781754th NorthLost First Round, 1–3 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders
2015–1660104010301372397th NorthLost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Whitecourt Wolverines
2016–176044133912201391st of 8, North
2nd of 16, AJHL
Won Div. Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs
Lost Div. Finals, 2–4 vs. Whitecourt Wolverines
2017–186042135892311652nd of 8, North
4th of 16, AJHL
Won First Round, 3–0 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs
Lost Div. Semifinals, 3–4 vs. Whitecourt Wolverines
2018–196032199732001784th of 8, North
7th of 16, AJHL
Won First Round, 3–1 vs. Grande Prairie Storm
Lost Div. Semifinals, 2–4 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders
2019–205820344441492286th of 8, North
11th of 15, AJHL
Lost First Round, 2–4 vs. Whitecourt Wolverines

Western Canada Cup

The Western Canada Cup was a postseason tournament between the playoff champions of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, British Columbia Hockey League, Manitoba Junior Hockey League, Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, and a previously selected host team from one of the leagues. It ran from 2013 to 2017 with the top two teams qualifying for the Royal Bank Cup Junior A national championship tournament. It replaced the Doyle Cup, which had been the qualifier for the AJHL and BCHL champions, and the ANAVET Cup, which had been the qualifier for the MJHL and SJHL champions. The qualifying system reverted the Doyle and ANAVET Cups in 2018.
The tournament began with round-robin play between the five team followed by the top two teams playing in championship game and the third and fourth place teams playing in a semifinal game. The loser of the championship game then faced the winner of the semifinal game for the runner-up qualifier. The winner of the championship and the runner-up game advanced to the Royal Bank Cup.
YearRound-robinRecordStandingSemifinalChampionship gameRunner-up game
2015
Host
W, 3–1 vs. Portage Terriers
L, 0–6 vs. Penticton Vees
W, 5–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints
OTW, 2–1 vs. Melfort Mustangs
3–13rd of 5L, 2–4 vs. Melfort Mustangs

Junior A National Championship

The National Junior A Championship, formerly known as the Royal Bank Cup, is the postseason tournament for the Canadian national championship for Junior A hockey teams that are members of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The tournament consists of the regional Junior A champions and a previously selected host team. Since 1990, the national championship has used a five-team tournament format when the regional qualifiers were designated as the ANAVET Cup, Doyle Cup, Dudley Hewitt Cup, and Fred Page Cup. From 2013 to 2017, the qualifiers were the Dudley Hewitt Cup, Fred Page Cup, and the Western Canada Cup champions and runners-up.
The tournament begins with round-robin play between the five teams followed by the top four teams playing a semifinal game, with the top seed facing the fourth seed and the second facing the third. The winners of the semifinals then face each other in final game for the national championship. In some years, the losers of the semifinal games face each other for a third place game.
YearRound-robinRecordStandingSemifinalThird place gameChampionship game
2000
Host
L, 1–2 vs. Battlefords North Stars
W, 5–2 vs. Cornwall Colts
W, 4–3 vs. Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats
W, 4–3 vs. Chilliwack Chiefs
3–11st of 5W, 5–2 vs. Battlefords North StarsW, 2–1 vs. Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats
National Champions

NHL alumni

The following former Oil Barons have gone on to play in the NHL: