Despite a rough start, the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs ended the week on a positive note.
After losing to the Fort McMurray Oil Barons in a shootout, the Pontiacs were determined to find success when they faced the Barons and Grande Prairie Storm on home ice.
Pontiacs fall in shootout
Bonnyville put up a fight when they fell 6-5 against the Oil Barons in enemy territory on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
The first ones out of the gate were the Pontiacs when Chayce Schmidt found the back of the net less than two minutes into the first. Austin Saint added to the Pontiacs lead shortly after.
Keeping his eye on the play was Matthew McKim.
The Oil Barons brought the score to 2-1, but Pontiac Lucas Thorne answered with a goal of his own.
Before the period was through, Fort McMurray landed two more goals to tie it up at 3-3.
The Oil Barons started the scoring off in the second, but Pontiac Daine Dubois got one past the netminder. He brought the score to 4-4 with the unassisted goal.
Fort McMurray came ahead before the end of the frame, which made the Pontiacs more determined when they hit the ice for the third period.
With less than seven minutes on the clock, Joshua Kroon gave Bonnyville the point they needed to send the game into overtime.
After a scoreless extra five minutes, the teams moved to a shootout, where the Oil Barons scored their 6-5 win.
Overtime success for the Pontiacs
When the Grande Prairie Storm came to town on Saturday, Oct. 26, the Pontiacs walked away with the 2-1 overtime win.
The teams were evenly matched during the first, with neither making it onto the scoreboard before the clock ran out.
Just over five minutes into the second, Pontiac Marc Benoit broke through the Storm’s defence to give Bonnyville a 1-0 lead.
While it looked like the home team was going to be victorious, those hopes were dashed when Grande Prairie tied it up with less than two minutes left in the third frame.
Less than two minutes into overtime, Pontiac Alexander Marrocco added to Bonnyville’s score and the local team celebrated a 2-1 victory.
Bonnyville wanted revenge
After losing to the Oil Barons earlier in the week, the Pontiacs were determined not to let it happen twice.
Bonnyville ended the matchup with a 4-1 win over their opponents.
Pontiac Jaden York looks for an open teammate during the game.
“I thought we had a great game,” expressed Saint. “We were checking hard, hitting them, and that’s what coach wanted us to do. We stuck to the game plan, and the results followed with that.”
Head coach Rick Swan noted the team kept it simple to overcome Fort McMurray, which meant shorter shifts for the home team. Bonnyville was determine to capitalize on the fact that the Oil Barons were finishing off a three game roadtrip.
“I think that created more wear and tear for the team that was coming in already tired, and it translated into success,” he explained.
On Sunday, Oct. 27, Thorne kicked off the game with the first goal at the 28-second mark.
The teams were tied after the Oil Barons found the back of the net.
The score was locked at 1-1 in the second until Dubois found an opening and added his name to the scoresheet. Not to be outdone by his teammate, Matthew McKim brought Bonnyville’s lead to 3-1 before the whistle blew.
The final point of the afternoon win went to the Pontiacs thanks to Saint.
After falling to the Oil Barons earlier in the week, Bonnyville defenceman Cayden Shmyr said the team was looking for a better outcome.
“We got up quickly, but they quickly came back and we lost in a shootout. We really wanted to get some revenge tonight, and we got it.”
The Pontiacs next home game is against the Calgary Canucks at the R.J. Lalonde Arena on Friday, Nov. 8. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
