The Bonnyville Sr. Pontiacs have sent the Eckville Eagles home to lick their wounds after an astounding match-up on Sunday.
It was game two of the five-game series, and the Pontiacs were fresh off of a 1-0 overtime loss from the night before.
Determined to redeem themselves, the team hit the ice hungry for a win.
Their willpower proved to be just what they needed to send the Eagles packing with a 7-3 loss.
Lucas Isley started the scoring for the Pontiacs less than three-minutes into the game, followed by a power play goal by Jordan Fuder just over seven-minutes in.
Eckville found the back of the net midway through the first frame, bringing the score to 2-1.
Even though the Pontiacs were headed into the second one-man short after a late-period penalty, they still managed to hold their ground.
With nine-minutes on the clock, the Eagles tied-up the game, followed by their third goal with less than 20-seconds left in the period.
Using their frustration as momentum, the Pontiacs were quick to capitalize in the third.
Michael Desjarlais broke the visiting team's lead.
The tie-breaking goal was scored by Pontiac Devon Kalinski, who found the back of the net just under nine-minutes into the frame.
Tanner Corbeil carried the Pontiacs energy, scoring their fifth goal of the night.
With fans going wild, the team fed off of their enthusiasm. Kalinski put another between the posts, bringing the Pontiacs lead up 6-3.
But that wasn't all the local team had to offer. Denis Cadrin managed to get one more past the Eagles' goaltender before the end of the night, finishing the game with a 7-3 win.
“I though we played pretty good tonight (Sunday). We took 20-minutes off there in the second period and it came back to bite us. Ultimately, in the third period we challenged the guys and the rose to it,” expressed coach Brad Paice.
Desjarlais said it was the team's start that made the game.
“We got into another gear and started doing simple things right.”
He added, “It's just so much better to have our fans behind us, it's like having a sixth man. It's nice.”
The team now heads to Eckville on Feb. 17 for their third game of the series. They will host the Eagles again on Feb. 24.
“We have to come out a little bit better than this, especially on the road and in their barn. We just have to come out better than we did tonight (Sunday),” Desjarlais expressed.
Paice is hoping their players will “ride the high” of their latest win in order to guarantee success in their next game.
“We have to control our emotions. We lost a heartbreaker in game one, we put that in the past and moved forward. Every day is a new day in the best of five.”
