The Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs will be heading to the AJHL's North Division Final for the first time in franchise history.
Dillan McCombie scored 49 seconds into overtime to lift the Pontiacs over the Lloydminster Bobcats by a 2-1 score on Sunday night.
“I am at a loss for words right now. It is an unreal feeling,” said McCombie moments after scoring the series-clinching goal.
“I've got to give my two line mates, Kyler Hehn and Evan Warmington, a lot of credit. They both went in hard on the forecheck, the puck popped out to the middle and I just shot it low blocker and it went in.”
The goal sent the record Bonnyville crowd of 2,030 into a frenzy and lifted the Pontiacs to a 4-2 series victory.
McCombie's overtime goal came after three periods of frustration for the Pontiacs thanks to a combination of the stellar play of Bobcats goaltender Devin Green and questionable officiating. The 20-year-old netminder stood on his head for the first 35 minutes of the game stopping the first 25 shots he faced, while the AJHL officiating crew made several debatable calls.
The first call came midway through the first period when Bonnyville's Cody Fiala, who stands at 6'5”, ran over a Bobcat in the neutral zone. The hit resulted in a disputed penalty for checking to the head, and led to Lloydminster scoring a powerplay goal to take an early lead.
“I am so proud of these guys not getting distracted away from what our focus was with how well their goaltender played, said Rick Swan, head coach and GM of the Pontiacs. “It was a real testament to the character that the guys have in the room for staying with it and knowing that if we play three good periods we are going to eventually collect on our hard work.”
At the 15:26 mark of the middle period the Pontiacs perseverance paid off and they were finally able to get by Green.
Bonnyville native Steen Pasichnuk found himself on a breakaway and made no mistake, blowing the roof off the RJ Lalonde Arena with the Pontiacs first goal of the game.
“It was absolutely unreal. I think that is the loudest I have ever heard this rink before,” said Pasichnuk.
“They were up 1-0 and we knew we had to push. We definitely had to get one back before the end of the period. It just so happened that I got the breakaway and I am glad I finished on it.”
Pasichnuk's goal tied the game 1-1 and set it up for a thrilling finish.
The Pontiacs onslaught continued in the third period with the team doubling the Bobcats in shots. By the end of the game Bonnyville had outshot Lloydminster 38-14.
The overtime goal off the stick of McCombie wasn't the only exciting finish to the series.
Just six nights before, Bonnyville's Kyler Hehn stuffed a loose puck past an outstretched Green 5:57 into the sudden death period to give Bonnyville a Game 4 victory.
The goal capped off a back-and-forth contest, which saw Alden Dupuis tie the game 3-3 with 3:21 remaining to force overtime.
With the Pontiacs up 3-1 the series shifted back to Lloydminster for Game 5 on Friday night. Bonnyville came out unprepared and squandered a chance to end the series.
“They were a desperate team and they didn't want to end their season,” said Swan. “We were up 3-1 and we were looking beyond the series to the North Division Final. I thought they were the better team. They outworked us and the score was a direct result.”
Swan was pleased with the Pontiacs bounce back performance on Sunday night in the series-clinching victory and feels that if the team sticks to their game plan they will have a great chance of beating their next opponent – the Spruce Grove Saints.
“It is a little bit of a David versus Goliath story here,” said Swan of the round three matchup. “They are the best team in our league. They are ranked #2 in Canada. But we know with our crowd, which is unlike anything in hockey, it is going to allow us to create the energy we need against them.”
The Pontiacs and Saints are expected to start the series on Friday and Saturday night in Spruce Grove, before coming back and playing a pair of games in Bonnyville on Monday and Tuesday night.
Games 5,6 and 7 are scheduled for April 3, 5 and 7 if necessary.
“If we can stay with our game plan, stay on the body and be physical and committed like we have been they arte going to have to be playing at their very best to have any success against us.”
