Newly acquired goaltender Olivier Charest led the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs to three of a possible six points over the weekend including the teams first win of the 2015-16 season.
The 19-year-old Quebec native arrived in Bonnyville late last week and backstopped the local squad to a 4-2 victory over Grande Prairie on Friday and a 2-1 shootout loss to Whitecourt on Saturday before losing 5-1 in Sherwood Park on Sunday.
Charest, who stands six-foot-three, 225-pounds, will join Joey Desrosiers and Billy Gorn in a three-way battle for the Pontiacs starting job between the pipes.
“It certainly wakes guys up in the dressing room,” said Pontiacs Head Coach and GM Rick Swan. “Guys might wonder what is going on. It's a three goalie tryout.”
After losing back-to-back games to Lloydminster and getting blown out 8-3 by Spruce Grove last Tuesday, the Pontiacs felt they needed to address several positions and additions were made to the team's roster.
“A lot of people are going to look at our hockey club as an 0-3 team and think that something might be wrong with the team we have. That is not necessarily the case,” said Swan.
The coaching staff feels they have a strong group players in the locker room, but felt a few new pieces would help improve the team moving forward.
Joining Charest on the Pontiacs roster is 18-year-old defenseman Kole Bryks, who was released by the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League (WHL) earlier in the month.
Bryks, a six-foot-two, 223-pound St. Albert native, is expected to add some grit and toughness to the Pontiacs blue line.
“I know him from my Alberta Cup days when he was 14-years-old,” said Swan. “I know his character a little bit…and I think he can be a heck of a contributor.”
Bonnyville has been carrying a sizable roster through the first five games of the regular season. The team currently has three goalies, nine defenseman and 17 forward in the mix. Swan expects one goalie, two defenseman and three forwards to be cut from the team over the course of the next week.
“We are deliberating,” said Swan. “It is like picking your favourite grandma.”
Many of the players considered to be on the bubble got a chance to show off their skills with the rosters varying Friday and Saturday night.
On Friday rookie Ryan Rothenberger scored his first AJHL goal midway through the first period to give the Pontiacs an early 1-0 lead.
Bobby McMann scored 1:12 later to open up a 2-0 lead for the home side.
McMann would go on to add another, his third of the season, at 14:22 of the second period to put Bonnyville up 3-1.
The two teams traded goals in the third period but the Pontiacs held on for their first win of the season.
“It was a huge win; a great team builder for us,” said McMann after defeating the Storm. “It should bring the guys closer and help us win some more games.”
After a 6-1 loss at the hands of the Whitecourt Wolverines on Sept. 5 the Pontiacs were looking for a much better effort on Saturday night.
Steenn Pasichnuk got Bonnyville off to a great start ripping a wrist shot past the glove of Wolverines netminder Tanner McCorriston.
Pasichnuk's first of the year held up for ten minutes before a bad pinch from a Pontiac defender lead to an odd man rush for the Wolverines.
Former Pontiac Cory Santoro followed up on the rebound of a Matt Gervais shot banging it past Charest to tie the game.
The two sides stayed deadlocked at 1-1 for the next 49 minutes, eventually needing a shootout to decide the winner.
Linden Penner and Bryson Traptow scored for the Wolverines to propel them to a 2-1 victory.
“You are always disappointed when you lose, but when you compete and work hard you are not as disappointed,” said Swan, who felt they were bullied and pushed around the last time out against Whitecourt.
“I thought there was a lot of good effort here. If you look at the growth over the two weeks and where we are now…we are a team that has lots to be optimistic about.”
The Pontiacs will travel to Whitecourt on Tuesday night, play in Spruce Grove Friday night and then return home Saturday to take on Brooks.
After this next stretch of games the coaching staff is expected to make some roster cuts.
