AJHL update - Jan 24th

Relatively quiet night, as most Thursday's are in the AJHL schedule, with only one game tonight:

1. Fort McMurray beat the Thunder 7-3 in Drayton Valley. A fairly even game overall, with the Thunder having a slight 1st period shot lead (13-11), and a larger lead in the 3rd (9-5), with the Oil Barons dominated the 2nd with a 16-9 shot advantage. A bit of an explosive finish with 4 penalties resulting from a fight between the Thunder's LW #9 Brendan McKay & the Oil Barons' RW #14  Alex Cromwell (both received 5 for fighting and a game misconduct - I believe that's an automatic suspension so late in the game) with 12 seconds to go... not quite as crazy as the last 12 seconds in GP last night, though. Speaking of these 2 games, I definitely have to check over the disciplinary link before I finish this post... that's a certainty... could be a lengthy update there... anyways thought - back to this game specifically. 

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Changes:

Fort McMurray:

*LD #7 Mike Green (Who I have no recollection of, being listed as an AP until now), returned to the lineup tonight, from "Concussion, expected back in late January". As newer friend/contact Trevor Howlett (Fort McMurray Today sports reporter & photographer) informed me in some messages over the last couple days, it sounded very likely Green would return for tonight's game as of yesterday - and sure enough, he did return. Here's a screenshot showing Green, along with F #15 Jordan Clark who was also recently changed to an AP - who also just so happened to return to the lineup tonight in Drayton Valley (from injury: Fractured tibia/ankle, expected back in late January"):

*RD/F #25 Joey Stadnicki's injury is now certain, also thanks to Trevor informing me of his story last week. The injury, as I posted onto EP now: "Broken collarbone, expected back (after 6 weeks, as of Jan 17th) by Feb 28th"

*Also posted in Trevor's article there, D/C #8 Daniel Petten was up with the MOB practicing with the team on last Thursday but didn't get into any game action. He hasn't been back in the Fort McMurray Barons Midget AA (NAMHL) lineup since though, as they currently have a fairly lengthy break (13 days off) until playing again Saturday.

*Further on F #15 Jordan Clark, as Trevor directed me over to a news article/coach's blog update from MOB GM/Head Coach Gord Thibodeau - he (Clark) was down with the Red Deer Vipers (HJHL) for games on last Saturday & Sunday, but returned to the MOB lineup tonight in Drayton Valley.

Drayton Valley - hmm, no know changes, though I suspect they have an un-provable injury or two.

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Suspension update (from AJHL Disciplinary Report link)- not as many as expected from the game here in GP last night, but a couple from that game and a few others:

January 24, 2013 - Grande Prairie player, Adam Boytnick, has been suspended for two (2) games as a result of being assessed a major penalty for checking from behind during a January 23, 2013 game in Grande Prairie.  The suspension is to be served during the Storms’ next two (2) regularly scheduled League games.

January 24, 2013 - Bonnyville player, Alex Smith, has been suspended for one (1) game as a result of being assessed his fifth fighting major of the season during a January 23, 2013 game in Grande Prairie.  The suspension is to be served during the Pontiacs’ next regularly scheduled League game.

January 23, 2013 - Drayton Valley player, Nathan Smith, has been suspended for one (1) game as a result of being assessed his fifth fighting major of the season during a January 18, 2013 game in Spruce Grove.  The suspension is to be served during the Thunders’ next regularly scheduled League game.

January 23, 2013 - Calgary Mustangs player, Stefan Virtanen, has been suspended for two (2) games as a result of being assessed a major penalty for kneeing during a January 22, 2013 game in Calgary.  The suspension is to be served during the Mustangs’ next two (2) regularly scheduled League games.

January 21, 2013 - Calgary Canucks player, Ty Morgan, has been suspended for three (3) games as a result of being assessed his sixth fight of the season during a January 20, 2013 game in Whitecourt.  The suspension is to be served during the Canucks’ next three (3) regularly scheduled League games.

Okay... so, Storm LW #24 Adam Boytinck, will miss Saturday & Tuesday's games and be eligible to return Feb 1st against Fort McMurray. As for Bonnyville C #22 Alex Smith, he will miss Saturday's game in Leduc against the Sherwood Park Crusaders (who I've heard, rumour has it are planning of possibly moving from Sherwood Park to Leduc and this is more or less a test to see what kind of community support they get) but will be eligible to return Jan 29th against Whitecourt. Drayton Valley RW #20 Nathan Smith served his suspension during tonight's game against Fort McMurray and is eligible to return Saturday against Grande Prairie. Calgary Mustangs RD #20 Stefan Virtanen will serve his suspension is tomorrow (Saturday) & Tuesday, and is eligible to return Feb 2nd against the Calgary Canucks. Calgary Canucks C/LW #21 Ty Morgan served one game Tuesday, and will serve the other 2 games this following Monday & Wednesday, and be eligible to return Feb 2nd in that very same game against the Mustangs Virtanen is available to return for, for the Mustangs.