Arguably the best season in Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs franchise history is over.
To no one's surprise, game six Monday night was again decided by a single goal, with Fort McMurray holding on for the 3-2 win and advancing to round three of the Alberta Junior Hockey League playoffs to face Spruce Grove.
All six games in the second round series were decided by one goal, with three games needing at least one extra period to decide a winner.
Pontiacs head coach and GM Chad Mercier said he has never seen such evenly matched hockey teams, but it doesn't make the tough loss any easier to swallow.
He said the feelings in the dressing room after the game were pretty sombre.
"We all expected more," he said. "And when that doesn't come to fruition it's not really easy to handle or deal with."
Needing a win to extend the series to a seventh game, the Pontiacs came out of the gate hard and fast, hitting everything that moved.
The hard work paid off less than three minutes into the first period when Dillon Currie picked up the loose puck after a hard fore-check by linemate Ryan Kearns. Currie wasted no time, shovelling the puck into the net for the 1-0 lead.
But then the tide turned.
The Oil Baron kept increasing the pressure and the Pontiacs found themselves on their heels a bit, halfway through the first, according to Mercier.
Then seven minutes into the opening frame Fort McMurray capitalized on a Pontiacs giveaway, tying the game at 1-1.
The second Period was even tougher for the suddenly struggling Pontiacs.
Fort McMurray maintained control for much of the second, eventually netting the go-ahead goal. And not long after that they scored a power play goal to make it 3-1 heading into the third period.
It was now do or die for the Pontiacs, and their response in the third was a valiant one.
"We threw everything we could at them, the pucks just wouldn't go in," said Pontiacs captain Michael Westfall.
The Pontiacs pulled within one, on a goal by Jordon Krankowsky seven minutes into the period, pulling fans at the packed R.J. Arena to the edge of their seats for the final Pontiacs push.
But it was all for naught, as the Oil Barons clamped down.
Both Westfall and Mercier said this loss will be the toughest to take for the 20-year-olds who have given so much to the organization and are now moving on from the Pontiacs.
"Every game teaches you something, and when you lose you've got to take something from that ... (But) it's definitely hard to take in right now," said Westfall. "Us 20-year-olds might not see each other again."
But Mercier added, in time and reflecting back, both players and coaches will see the success of the season as a whole.
The Pontiacs have set or broken several franchise records this year, while finishing third in the north division - another franchise first. And to nearly push this series to the brink, both players and coaches should hold their heads high.
Despite players like himself, Donnie Harris, Julien Laplante and Devon Kalinski among others, leaving the team in the offseason, Westfall can see a bright future for the franchise.
"We've got a good core group coming back next year that can lead the way, take the bull by the horns and go for it all."
Check out next week's Bonnyville Nouvelle for a complete Pontiacs season wrap up.
