The Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs may have started the new year off right with a win early on in 2019, but they missed their chance to be number one in the AJHL north division following a loss on home ice.
The Pontiacs defeated the Camrose Kodiaks in a road game shootout, and capitalized for a second time when they faced the Olds Grizzlys on home ice.
Their win streak was brought to a halt following their matchup with the Calgary Mustangs. This would have been their shot at the number one spot in the north division.
“We had an opportunity because Okotoks beat Sherwood Park, which would have allowed us to even up the standings to where we want to be and we missed that opportunity,” noted head coach Rick Swan.
The Pontiacs currently hold second and are only two points behind the Sherwood Park Crusaders.
Shootout win for the Pontiacs
It was a good way to start off the new year.
On Tuesday, Jan. 1, the Pontiacs hit the road for their game against Camrose and came home with a 5-4 win to show for it.
Pontiac Bobby Young started the game off finding the back of the net with just over seven minutes on the clock.
Camrose answered with a goal of their own seconds later.
Before the end of the first, Isaac Saniga would add his name to the scoresheet.
Grayson Constable capitalized on a powerplay less than five minutes into the second frame, bringing the score up 3-1.
Camrose added three more points to the scoreboard during powerplay opportunities.
Pontiac Sean Thomson wasn’t happy with the Kodiaks holding the lead, and tied the game 4-4 with a goal of his own in the third period
The Pontiacs put it all on the line during the shootout, with Lucas Reeves, Trey Thomas, and Young each getting one past Camrose’s goalie.
The Kodiaks managed to get one of their own in, but with a 3-1 shootout score, the Pontiacs had solidified their 5-4 win.
Pontiacs win in hometown shutout
For their first home game of the new year, the Pontiacs dominated the Olds Grizzlys 7-0 on Friday, Jan. 4.
First to find the scoreboard was Constable, followed by a goal from Jaden York.
Adding to their lead, Marc-Antoine Benoit found the back of the net with just minutes left in the frame.
The Grizzlys amped-up their defence and wouldn’t let another goal in until late in the second. It was Luke Albert who capitalized on a powerplay, bringing the home team’s score up 4-0.
Benoit got the puck past his opponent’s goalie with less than a minute left in the second.
A powerplay goal in the final frame by Ray brought the Pontiacs’ lead up 6-0.
Thomas would add another to the scoreboard, ending the game with a final 7-0.
It was the most shots on goal so far this season, with the Pontiacs recording 69.
Local team falls to the Mustangs
The Pontiacs couldn’t continue their winning streak in their game against the Calgary Mustangs on Saturday, Jan. 5.
After a hard-fought battle, they fell 5-2.
It seemed like the game might go in the hometown team’s favour when Daine Dubois landed the first goal of the night during a powerplay.
“We had a few unlucky bounces, but we definitely could have elevated our competes, and in the end, it cost us,” Dubois expressed.
The Mustangs would quickly answer, tying it up 1-1 before the end of the first frame.
The second period went to the Mustangs after they took the lead 2-1.
It was less than two minutes into the third when Calgary would capitalize once again.
Scoring the home team’s second goal of the night was Reeves, who found the back of the net just over seven minutes into the final period.
Calgary solidified their victory by adding two more points to their lead. In the end, the Pontiacs fell 5-2.
“If anything, the five goals on that board didn’t represent the kind of game he (the Pontiacs goalie) had,” expressed Pontiac Victor Polowy. “There’s one thing that we really need to think about going into the next game, we have to do it for him because we’ve been stringing him out too much.”
Swan stressed the importance of the Pontiacs heading into each game to play their best, as the second half of the season is only going to get tougher.
“We have to have that mindset that we have to be prepared to work, and with that work and skill, we’ll roll over guys,” he said.
The Pontiacs next home game is tonight (Tuesday, Jan. 8) against the Drayton Valley Thunder. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m at the R.J. Lalonde Arena.
