BONNYVILLE – Playing a spook-tacular game at the R.J. Lalonde Arena on Halloween Eve, the Pontiacs added another win to a stellar season and eight game winning streak.
Winning 4–3 against the Canmore Eagles, it was a game that could have gone either way based on the players’ drive alone.
From the moment the puck dropped it was clear that the Saturday night game was going to be won by matching physicality and speed.
The vast majority of the first period was a brutal stalemate with both teams trying to wear down their competitors.
In the last 44.8 seconds of the first period, Matteo Giampa, Pontiac player #18, lit the scoreboard with the first point of the night coming off the momentum of killing the Eagles’ power play. Giampa was assisted by Sebastian Tamburro and Nick Traggio.
“We've had a couple physical games, but that one definitely got a little physical towards the end, because it was so close. It was kind of a nail biter,” said Traggio, the Pontiac left side defenseman.
Less than two minutes into the second period, Ethan Sundar, Pontiacs #10, got a breakaway finding the back of the Eagles’ net with the help of assistant captain AJ Macaulay.
Taking advantage of the power play, the Eagles were able to get the puck around Pontiacs’ goalie Bodee Weiss, part way through the period.
However, it wasn’t long before Pontiacs’ player #9, Alex Atwill, brought the score up 3–1. As the Pontiacs pulled ahead on the score board the physicality turned to roughness and tempers began to boil over on the ice.
Fueled by their frustrations, the Eagles battled back in the third period earning two more goals, tying up the game.
With less than 10 minutes in the game, there would be no easy victory for either team.
In the last six minutes of the game, the Pontiacs were able to take a one-point lead over the Eagles with a goal by Trey Funk, Pontiacs #25.
The Pontiacs spent the rest of the period doing what they could to hold off their opponents.
“It's always a tough one after that when you're up one with a couple minutes ago,” Traggio said reflecting on the intensity following the Pontiacs final goal. “So, there were little bumps and bruises on the way, but I think the team handled it well. We came out with the win.”
Determined, the Eagles made the Pontiacs work for their victory every minute of Saturday night’s game.
The Pontiacs have won 13 games, lost three and have one overtime loss.
Even with Saturday’s win, the Pontiacs remain in third place in the AJHL North division with both the Spruce Grove Saints and Fort McMurray Oil Barrons winning during this weekend's match ups.
Speaking with Lakeland This Week, Traggio said, “Both of those teams also have a game on us. They’ve played 18 games where we’ve played 17. When we get that game back, hopefully we'll win and be in first, but as of right now we're third... it's very close.”
One point behind the top two teams, Traggio added, “I think we might get that game back this this week because we play four games in five days. It's a lot but it should be fun and if we do well, I think we'll be looking at the first place.”
Currently, the Saints and Oil Barons are tied with 28 points, with the Pontiacs standing one point behind with 27 points.
Beginning their southern tour this week, the Pontiacs will take on the Okotoks Oilers on Tuesday, the Calgary Canucks Wednesday and rematch the Canmore Eagles on Friday. Saturday the Pontiacs will play against the Olds Grizzlys before wrapping up their away tour in Drayton Valley against the Thunder.
The Pontiacs next home game is on Nov. 12 against the Blackfalds Bulldogs.
