The first ever Satellite game hosted by the Calgary Canucks was a great success, despite the tough loss to the Fort McMurray Oil Barons. The night kicked off with a Family Skate, which was visited by Harvey the Hound and Santa. Following the skate, 724 people watched the Calgary Canucks square of with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons.
The Oil Barons, who put all local Strathmore players in the starting line-ups, scored half-way through the first to make it 1:0. It was Strathmore native, Will Conley who put Fort Mac on the score board. The Canucks battled back and were able to tie the game, by a goal from #8 Ryan McKinnon, before the buzzer to end the first period.
The second period continued where the first left off. The two teams battled hard to gain the upper hand in the game. The Oil Barons came out on top, scoring twice to increase the lead to 3:1 by the end of the second.
The third period got exciting with Ryan McKinnon scoring his second of the night putting the Canucks within one of Oil Barons. In a final push Drackett left the net with two minutes left in the third, during this time Fort McMurray got an empty netter making it 4-2. The Canucks battled and Nolan Carothers was able to score 16 seconds later making it 4-3. The Canucks weren’t able to tie up the score in the final minutes of the third period despite outshooting the Oil Barons 46-28.
Despite the tough loss to the Oil Barons, the night was a success for the Calgary Canucks and Strathmore Minor Hockey. The hockey fest was perceived well by visitors and the visiting team.