The Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs hung their heads after a call on Saturday night they believe cost them the game.
But, there was more to the weekend than a loss against the Brooks Bandits.
On Friday, Jan. 19, the team dominated the Camrose Kodiaks on home ice.
Unfortunately for the Pontiacs, their luck ended there, and they accepted a tough loss on Saturday night against Brooks.
Pontiacs tame the Kodiaks
The Pontiacs started their weekend going head-to-head against a team head coach Rick Swan described, as “hard-nosed and gritty.”
In the end, the Kodiaks' aggression wasn't enough and the Pontiacs triumphed with a final 3-2.
The Pontiacs had a good start to the game with a powerplay goal by Lucas Thorne.
Keeping up the momentum Olson Werenka scored for the home team just minutes later.
Swan said this is one area where Friday and Saturday's games differ; it was all about the start of the game.
The Pontiacs carried their enthusiasm into the second period, with a goal by Zach Aston with just over five-minutes left in the frame.
With still nothing to show on the scoreboard, the Kodiaks put one between the posts with an unassisted goal.
The Pontiacs wouldn't find the back of the net for the rest of the night. Not wanting to leave the home team with too much of a lead, the Kodiaks scored late in the final period.
Pontiacs feeling the sting after loss
Saturday night's 2-1 loss against Brooks was tough for the young team.
After three periods of fighting for a goal, they finally found the back of the net with less than 30-seconds left on the clock.
Swan pulled the goalie after a brief time out, hoping the extra man would be just what they needed.
The Bandits set their sights on the empty net, with a near miss sliding past the post.
Coaching staff, players, and fans were scratching their heads wondering why it wasn't an icing call.
“We felt that should have been an icing. It maybe would have given us another chance to create a face-off in the offensive zone and get another goal,” Swan expressed.
In the end, Luke Albert pulled through for his team, breaking the Bandits shutout.
For the young player, the goal wasn't enough to wash away the taste of a bad call.
“It sucks to have a call like that when our whole team is working so hard... It just sucks the life right out of your team to get a call like that.”
Their next face-off is against the Fort McMurray Oil Barons on Tuesday, Jan. 23. They will be back at the R.J. Lalonde Arena for their game against Spruce Grove on Saturday, Jan. 27.
