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 <abbr title="Games Played">GP</abbr title> <abbr title="Wins">W</abbr title> <abbr title="Losses">L</abbr title> <abbr title="Ties/Overtime Losses">T/OTL</abbr title> <abbr title="Shootout Losses">SOL</abbr title> <abbr title="Points">Pts</abbr title> <abbr title="Goals For">GF</abbr title> <abbr title="Goals Against">GA</abbr title> Finish Playoffs 1981–82 60 31 29 0 — 62 296 296 2nd North Won quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. Fort Saskatchewan TradersLost 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 TradersWon semifinals, 4–1 vs. St. Albert SaintsLost 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 SaintsLost 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 SaintsLost semifinals, 0–4 vs. Calgary Royals 1991–92 60 38 18 — 4 80 312 263 3rd Overall Won quarterfinals, 4–3 vs. Calgary CanucksWon semifinals, 4–3 vs. Lloydminster BlazersLost finals, 1–4 vs. Olds Grizzlys 1992–93 56 33 22 — 1 67 293 238 4th Overall Won quarterfinals, 5–0 vs. Lloydminster BlazersLost semifinals, 0–4 vs. Olds Grizzlys 1993–94 56 29 22 — 5 63 251 214 4th Overall Won quarterfinals, 4–3 vs. Calgary CanucksWon semifinals, 4–2 vs. Sherwood Park CrusadersLost finals, 2–4 vs. Olds Grizzlys 1994–95 56 31 20 — 5 67 258 221 3rd Overall Won quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. Calgary RoyalsLost semifinals, 3–4 vs. Calgary Canucks 1995–96 60 35 19 — 6 76 257 203 5th Overall Won quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Fort Saskatchewan TradersWon semifinals, 4–1 vs. Calgary CanucksLost finals, 3–4 vs. St. Albert Saints 1996–97 60 34 22 — 4 72 241 180 4th Overall Won quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Olds GrizzlysWon semifinals, 4–2 vs. St. Albert SaintsWon AJHL Championship, 4–3 vs. Calgary CanucksLost 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 PontiacsWon semifinals, 4–1 vs. Lloydminster BlazersWon AJHL Championship, 4–0 vs. Camrose KodiaksWon 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 BlazersLost 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 PontiacsWon quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. Drayton Valley ThunderWon semifinals, 4–2 vs. Camrose KodiaksLost 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 StormWon semifinals, 4–2 vs. Drayton Valley ThunderLost finals, 3–4 vs. Camrose Kodiaks 2005–06 60 40 14 6 — 86 202 110 1st North Won quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Bonnyville PontiacsWon semifinals, 4–0 vs. Brooks BanditsWon AJHL Championship, 4–2 vs. Camrose KodiaksLost 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 ThunderLost quarterfinals, 0–4 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders 2007–08 62 40 14 8 — 88 238 168 1st North Won quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. Bonnyville PontiacsWon semifinals, 4–1 vs. Spruce Grove SaintsLost finals, 3–4 vs. Camrose Kodiaks 2008–09 62 31 26 5 — 67 208 188 5th North Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–1 vs. Bonnyville PontiacsLost 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 SteelWon Div. Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Grande Prairie StormWon Div. Finals, 4–1 vs. Okotoks OilersLost 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 SteelWon Div. Semifinals, 4–2 vs. Bonnyville PontiacsLost 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 StormWon Div. Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Sherwood Park CrusadersWon Div. Finals, 4–3 vs. Spruce Grove SaintsLost 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 ThunderWon Div. Semifinals, 4–3 vs. Lloydminster BobcatsLost 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, North2nd of 16, AJHL Won Div. Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Bonnyville PontiacsLost Div. Finals, 2–4 vs. Whitecourt Wolverines 2017–18 60 42 13 5 — 89 231 165 2nd of 8, North4th of 16, AJHL Won First Round, 3–0 vs. Bonnyville PontiacsLost div. semi-finals, 3–4 vs. Whitecourt Wolverines 2018–19 60 32 19 9 — 73 200 178 4th of 8, North7th of 16, AJHL Won First Round, 3–1 vs. Grande Prairie StormLost div. semi-finals, 2–4 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders 2019–20 58 20 34 4 — 44 149 228 6th of 8, North11th 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, North3rd of 16, AJHL Won Div. Quarterfinals 4-1 vs. Sherwood Park CrusadersLost Div. Semifinals 2-4 Drayton Valley Thunder 2022–23 60 24 26 6 4 58 180 205 5th of 8, North9th of 16, AJHL Lost Div. Quarterfinals 3-4 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders 2023–24 57 17 34 3 3 40 150 246 10th of 11, AJHL Did Not Qualify for post Season 2024–25 54 24 26 3 1 52 160 175 4th of 6 Nor Div9th of 12, AJHL Lost Div Semifinal 1-4 (Whitecourt Wolverines)
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 2015Host 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.