Fort McMurray Oil Barons

Fort McMurray Oil Barons
City	Fort McMurray, Alberta
League	Alberta Junior Hockey League
Division	North
Founded	1981 (1981)
Home arena	Centerfire Place
Colours	Blue and yellow
General manager	Joey Bouchard
Head coach	Sam Klassen
Website	fortmcmurrayoilbarons.ca

The Fort McMurray Oil Barons are a Junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). They play in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada at the Centerfire Place. 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 (AJHL) 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 (MHL). 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 (BCHL).

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

Season	GP	W	L	T/OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA	Finish	Playoffs
1981–82	60	31	29	0	—	62	296	296	2nd North	Won quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders Lost semifinals, 0–4 vs. St. Albert Saints
1982–83	60	38	22	0	—	76	324	308	2nd North	Won quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders Won semifinals, 4–1 vs. St. Albert Saints Lost finals, 2–4 vs. Calgary Canucks
1983–84	60	24	35	1	—	49	255	315	4th North	Lost quarterfinals, 0–4 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders
1984–85	60	9	51	0	—	18	204	386	4th North	did not qualify
1985–86	52	16	36	0	—	32	243	317	4th North	Won quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. St. Albert Saints Lost semifinals, 1–4 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders
1986–87	60	30	28	2	—	62	300	292	3rd North	Lost quarterfinals, 2–4 vs. St. Albert Saints
1987–88	60	19	41	0	—	38	244	356	4th North	Lost quarterfinals, 2–4 vs. St. Albert Saints
1988–89	60	10	47	3	—	23	180	334	5th North	did not qualify
1989–90	60	33	24	3	—	69	278	273	1st North	Lost quarterfinals, 0–4 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders
1990–91	56	20	32	4	—	44	247	283	7th Overall	Won quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. St. Albert Saints Lost semifinals, 0–4 vs. Calgary Royals
1991–92	60	38	18	—	4	80	312	263	3rd Overall	Won quarterfinals, 4–3 vs. Calgary Canucks Won semifinals, 4–3 vs. Lloydminster Blazers Lost finals, 1–4 vs. Olds Grizzlys
1992–93	56	33	22	—	1	67	293	238	4th Overall	Won quarterfinals, 5–0 vs. Lloydminster Blazers Lost semifinals, 0–4 vs. Olds Grizzlys
1993–94	56	29	22	—	5	63	251	214	4th Overall	Won quarterfinals, 4–3 vs. Calgary Canucks Won semifinals, 4–2 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders Lost finals, 2–4 vs. Olds Grizzlys
1994–95	56	31	20	—	5	67	258	221	3rd Overall	Won quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. Calgary Royals Lost semifinals, 3–4 vs. Calgary Canucks
1995–96	60	35	19	—	6	76	257	203	5th Overall	Won quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders Won semifinals, 4–1 vs. Calgary Canucks Lost finals, 3–4 vs. St. Albert Saints
1996–97	60	34	22	—	4	72	241	180	4th Overall	Won 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 (BCHL)
1997–98	60	36	21	—	3	75	226	216	5th Overall	Lost quarterfinals, 0–4 vs. Calgary Canucks
1998–99	62	31	28	—	3	65	247	267	6th North	did not qualify
1999–00	64	52	10	—	2	106	321	169	1st North	Won 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 (BCHL) Won Royal Bank Cup
2000–01	64	37	22	5	—	79	287	261	4th North	Won Preliminary series, 3–1 vs. Lloydminster Blazers Lost quarterfinals, 2–4 vs. Drayton Valley Thunder
2001–02	64	36	20	8	—	80	217	198	4th North	Lost preliminary series, 0–3 vs. Grande Prairie Storm
2002–03	64	19	41	4	—	42	206	286	8th North	did not qualify
2003–04	60	29	20	11	—	69	182	151	3rd North	Won 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
2004–05	64	43	16	5	—	91	192	117	1st North	Won quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. Grande Prairie Storm Won semifinals, 4–2 vs. Drayton Valley Thunder Lost finals, 3–4 vs. Camrose Kodiaks
2005–06	60	40	14	6	—	86	202	110	1st North	Won 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 (BCHL)
2006–07	60	25	27	8	—	58	170	196	5th North	Won Preliminary series, 3–1 vs. Drayton Valley Thunder Lost quarterfinals, 0–4 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders
2007–08	62	40	14	8	—	88	238	168	1st North	Won quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs Won semifinals, 4–1 vs. Spruce Grove Saints Lost finals, 3–4 vs. Camrose Kodiaks
2008–09	62	31	26	5	—	67	208	188	5th North	Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–1 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs Lost div. semi-finals, 1–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints
2009–10	60	37	19	1	—	78	235	168	3rd North	Won 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
2010–11	60	43	16	1	—	87	219	139	2nd North	Won 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
2011–12	60	47	9	4	—	98	254	126	2nd North	Won 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
2012–13	60	31	22	7	—	69	169	170	5th North	Lost div. quarter-finals, 1–3 vs. Whitecourt Wolverines
2013–14	60	45	11	4	—	94	216	125	2nd North	Won 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
2014–15	60	31	23	6	—	68	178	175	4th North	Lost First Round, 1–3 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders
2015–16	60	10	40	10	—	30	137	239	7th North	Lost div. quarter-finals, 0–3 vs. Whitecourt Wolverines
2016–17	60	44	13	3	—	91	220	139	1st of 8, North 2nd of 16, AJHL	Won Div. Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs Lost Div. Finals, 2–4 vs. Whitecourt Wolverines
2017–18	60	42	13	5	—	89	231	165	2nd of 8, North 4th of 16, AJHL	Won First Round, 3–0 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs Lost div. semi-finals, 3–4 vs. Whitecourt Wolverines
2018–19	60	32	19	9	—	73	200	178	4th of 8, North 7th of 16, AJHL	Won First Round, 3–1 vs. Grande Prairie Storm Lost div. semi-finals, 2–4 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders
2019–20	58	20	34	4	—	44	149	228	6th of 8, North 11th of 15, AJHL	Lost First Round, 2–4 vs. Whitecourt Wolverines
2020–21	16	12	1	3	—	27	72	39	Season cancelled due to covid-19 pandemic
2021–22	60	40	19	1	—	81	216	175	2nd of 8, North 3rd of 16, AJHL	Won Div. Quarterfinals 4-1 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders Lost Div. Semifinals 2-4 Drayton Valley Thunder
2022–23	60	24	26	6	4	58	180	205	5th of 8, North 9th of 16, AJHL	Lost Div. Quarterfinals 3-4 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders
2023–24	57	17	34	3	3	40	1850	246	10th of 11, AJHL	Did Not Qualify for ost Season

Western Canada Cup

The Western Canada Cup was a postseason tournament between the playoff champions of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), 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.

Year	Round-robin	Record	Standing	Semifinal	Championship game	Runner-up game
2015 Host	W, 3–1 vs. Portage Terriers (MJHL) L, 0–6 vs. Penticton Vees (BCHL) W, 5–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) OTW, 2–1 vs. Melfort Mustangs (SJHL)	3–1	3rd of 5	L, 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 (Western), Doyle Cup (Pacific), Dudley Hewitt Cup (Central), and Fred Page Cup (Eastern). From 2013 to 2017, the qualifiers were the Dudley Hewitt Cup (Central), Fred Page Cup (Eastern), 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.

Year	Round-robin	Record	Standing	Semifinal	Third place game	Championship game
2000 Host	L, 1–2 vs. Battlefords North Stars (Western) W, 5–2 vs. Cornwall Colts (Eastern) W, 4–3 vs. Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats (Central) W, 4–3 vs. Chilliwack Chiefs (Pacific)	3–1	1st of 5	W, 5–2 vs. Battlefords North Stars	—	W, 2–1 vs. Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats National Champions

NHL alumni

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

• Dale Kushner
• Bradley Mills
• Rich Parent
• Chris Phillips
• Colton Parayko
• Garret Stroshein
• Scottie Upshall
• Harry York

See also

• List of ice hockey teams in Alberta

External links

• Fort McMurray Oil Barons website
• Alberta Junior Hockey League website