The Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs finished their regular season off on a high note, beating their franchise history record with 41 wins ahead of the first round of playoffs.
During their final three home games, the Pontiacs bounced back from a loss against the Spruce Grove Saints with two wins against the Lloydminster Bobcats and the Whitecourt Wolverines.
The Pontiacs also had the least number of goals made against them in a season in addition to the team finishing above third place.
Head coach Rick Swan said, “It feels good. Sixty games are done, it’s been a long-haul, but now we start the real season and it’s great to break franchise records in the regular season. I think everybody wants to see us break franchise records now in the post-season.”
Saints best the Pontiacs
The Pontiacs fell to the Spruce Grove Saints 3-1 when they came to town on Wednesday, Feb. 27.
The first period was quiet for both teams.
Spruce Grove was first to find the back of the net in the second frame.
The Saints added another point to their lead before Pontiac Garin Butler landed Bonnyville’s only point of the night during a powerplay.
The visiting team scored another before the end of the night, ending the matchup with a 3-1 victory.
Pontiacs break losing streak
After a five-game losing streak, the Pontiacs tasted an 8-1 victory over the Lloydminster Bobcats on home ice Friday, March 1.
The first goal went to Bonnyville with Ethan Leyer getting on the scoreboard.
Daine Dubois brought the home team’s lead up 2-0 before the end of the first.
Starting the scoring off in the second was Trey Thomas.
The Bobcats closed the gap with one of their own, ending the frame 3-1.
In the final 20-minutes of gameplay, the Pontiacs added five to the scoresheet. The first to find the back of the net was Dubois, followed by Lucas Thorne, and Bobby Young with his first goal of the evening.
During two separate fights, Marc-Antoine Benoit and Noah Lugli were thrown out of the game with less than 10 minutes on the clock.
Grayson Constable added to Bonnyville’s lead, but it would be Thomas who would score the final goal of the night, solidifying the team’s 8-1 win.
Pontiacs tame the Wolverines
Hoping to build off of their momentum, the Pontiacs turned their attention to their final regular game of the season against the Whitecourt Wolverines on Sunday, March 3.
Their efforts paid off when they defeated their visitors 8-2.
“I thought it was a strong effort from the boys,” noted Constable. “Knowing we could potentially play Whitecourt in the playoffs, I think that was good motivation for us.”
Benoit agreed, “We wanted to send a message that they won’t be able to beat us, and I think that’s what we did tonight.”
Bonnyville was first on the scoreboard with a point from Isaac Saniga.
Whitecourt answered with a goal a few minutes later, and tied the game at 1-1.
With back-to-back goals, Thorne broke the tie and put the Pontiacs ahead 3-1.
Less than three minutes into the second, Benoit added his name to the scoresheet.
Not willing to go down without a fight, the Wolverines snagged one of their own.
Jeremy Gervais brought the score to 6-2.
Benoit landed a hat trick after two goals in the second and one in the third.
“It was my first of the year, and a big shout out goes to my two line mates who set me up pretty well tonight,” he expressed.
The final goal of the evening went to Bonnyville’s Scott McKenzie, who capitalized on a powerplay in the final minute of play, when Whitecourt was down a man due to cross-checking.
With the regular season behind them, the Pontiacs now turn their attention to the first round of playoffs.
“We’re going to make sure we prepare the right way by watching video, by making sure our practices are purposeful, making sure that we create a little bit of a mindset that we can feel good about ourselves, and we believe that we have a team that can go a long way,” detailed Swan.
Constable added, “The coaches have prepared us really well for what’s to come, and we’ve got 11 games to get out of our division. We’ve got to put our best foot forward, and move on from there.”
The Pontiacs will face-off against the Whitecourt Wolverines in the first game playoffs on Thursday, March 7 at the R.J. Lalonde Arena. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.
