As heard on 96.5 CKFM, the Olds Grizzlys blanked the Fort McMurray Oil Barons 3-0 during a Saturday afternoon matinee to end their 5 game losing skid.
Prior to the second meeting between the two teams at the SportsComplex in a span of a couple of weeks, a moment of silence was observed in honour of Remembrance Day.
Once the puck was dropped it didn’t take long for the Black & Gold to jump out to an early lead with rookie defenceman Keil Schmalz (2006) from Calgary netting his first Alberta Junior Hockey League goal.
The Grizzlys would make it 2-0 before the six minute mark of the opening stanza, when rookie forward Braeden Veldhuizen (2006) from Calgary ended a personal 7 game goalless drought.
Veldhuizen has been one of the top offensive threats for Olds during his rookie campaign. He is fourth on the team in points and is now tied for second in goals with 6 along with Junshi Hideshima.
Carrying a 2-0 lead on Fort Mac into the third period, the Grizzlys were able to find that all important next goal to pad their lead thanks to a point shot from rookie blueliner Justin Vandermeer (2004) from Caroline.
A dozen current Grizzlys players have scored their first AJHL goal this season through the team’s first 18 games. Forward Hunter Motley (2005) from Czar is the 13th current player to net his first goal for Olds in the AJHL this year. Motley had 4 goals with Whitecourt in 2023-2024 during his rookie season in the league.
Goaltender Ben Dardis (2004) from Mahtomedi, Minnesota would shut the door from there to earn his second career AJHL shutout.
Fort McMurray had won 3-2 in Olds back on October 25th. The four game season series will conclude when the OGs head north for a pair of games on January 25th and 26th.
Saturday’s win over the Oil Barons (8-12-1-0) improves the Grizzlys record this season to 8-10-0-0 and gives them a big boost heading into a three game road trip that will start on November 15th in Whitecourt against the Wolverines (14-5-0-1). Olds sits last (6th) in the South Division, 2 points back of the Drayton Valley Thunder (7-7-2-2) and 5 points behind the Drumheller Dragons (11-8-1-0). The Dragons currently occupy the Division’s 4th and final playoff spot.
96.5 CKFM collected post-game audio from Ben Dardis.
CKFM also spoke with Keil Schmalz afterwards.
Prior to Saturday’s contest, CKFM had this conversation with Grizzlys bench boss Brad Tobin.
Listen to 96.5 CKFM’s pre-game interview with Fort McMurray’s Head Coach Sam Klassen.
