Despite recurring injury woes and a recent run-in with the flu, the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs continue to win, picking up five of a possible six points on the road this past weekend.
The Pontiacs pulled out a 5-2 win in Canmore Sunday and a 4-2 win in Okotoks Saturday. The weekend matchups followed a 3-2 shootout loss Friday to the South Division leading Brooks Bandits.
"It was a weekend where we had to battle through a few things," said Pontiacs associate coach Ryan Pollock.
"We were short staffed leaving town and then we get there and the flu hit us. We lost Jordon Krankowsky Friday to the flu, Branden Domoslai gets it Saturday and sits out and then Blake Leask gets it Sunday and doesn't play. So when you look at that, it almost makes it more rewarding the way we played this weekend."
The Pontiacs were also missing the likes of co-captain Dante Borrelli (knee injury) and 20-year-old forward Jake Towriss (concussion), who will both remain out of the lineup with their respective injuries.
As has happened all year, the team stepped up in the absence of certain individuals. In particular, it was Pontiacs third-year forward Ryan Kearns coming up big for his team in the two weekend wins.
Kearns netted a goal and two assists in the Pontiacs win over the Okotoks Oilers Saturday and followed that up with another solid performance Sunday, scoring two goals and adding an assist in the win over the Canmore Eagles.
The six-point weekend has Kearns up to 21 points on the season, notching nine goals and adding 12 helpers in 22 games.
The 19-year-old exploded for 40 points in 48 games last season, after picking up only three points in 24 games in 2009-10.
His breakout performance last year was most evident in the playoffs, where Kearns racked up three goals and eight assists, including two game-winning goals, in just eight playoff games.
Pontiacs head coach Chad Mercier said Kearns, along with many of the veterans, have elevated their game of late.
"This weekend especially, we saw our veteran guys come in and step up for us," Mercier said. "We have high expectations of Ryan and he has high expectations of himself. He has elevated game and we believe it will continue."
Forwards Tanner Dusyk and Tommy Barszcz also had exceptional weekends, adding to their team-leading point totals.
Dusyk picked up a goal and an assist on both Saturday and Sunday, bringing his point total to 24 on the season, one back of Barszcz, the team leader.
Barszcz had one assist Friday against Brooks before netting two goals and adding an assist in Sunday's win over Canmore.
Pontiacs co-captain Kevin Carthy was named the game star in Friday's shootout loss and dished out two assists on Sunday. Forward Jackson Dudley also had two assists in the game.
With the wins, the Pontiacs continue to hold on to second in the AJHL's North Division, with a record of 17-5-1, three points back of first-place Spruce Grove Saints.
The Pontiacs' road trip continues, as the team travels to Lloydminster Wednesday to take on the Bobcats.
Puck drop for that one is 7:30 p.m.
The Pontiacs finally return home this Saturday, when they take on the St. Albert Steel. The game goes at 7 p.m. in the R.J. Lalonde Arena.
