BONNYVILLE – Taking to the RJ Lalonde Arena on Sunday afternoon against the Grande Prairie Storm, it was a game where the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs could do no wrong.
The home team showed up focused, executed brilliant passes, played physical in all the right ways and took advantage of every opportunity that presented itself on the ice, resulting in a 6-0 win over the visiting Storm.
The Pontiacs have had a season of ups and downs with just nine victories and seven losses to their regular season record.
With many games coming close, the Bonnyville Pontiacs’ last two home games go to show just how much mental preparation can impact the Jr. A Pontiacs’ performance.
On Oct. 14, the Pontiacs hosted the Sherwood Park Crusaders that resulted in a disappointing 9-4 defeat that Head Coach Mario Pouliot described as “embarrassing.”
This weekend's match was everything contrary to that.
In the first three minutes of Sunday’s game, Cole Hipkin earned the Pontiacs’ first goal with an assist from Ethan Look.
As the first period neared the end, Mike Cataldo showed up with a second point getting a hand from Noah Heinrich and JR Ashmead.
By the second period, the Storm battled to keep them out of their end zone, but Trey Funk with the support of Matteo Giampa was able to find the back of the net halfway through the period.
It was obvious by the third period that the confidence had swept through the home bench. Plays remained tight and the Pontiacs’ forwards never shied away from playing defensively.
Joshua Simpson earned the team’s fourth goal in the first two minutes of the third period during a power play. He was assisted by Nicolas Beaudoin and Funk.
Cataldo followed by aweing the crowd with a shorthanded breakaway.
The game felt all but wrapped up until Beaudoin returned to single handedly score the Pontiacs’ sixth goal in the final minutes of the game.
Next weekend, the Pontiacs will host the Whitecourt Wolverines in back-to-back games. The puck will drop at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30.
