The Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs showcased the team's ability to win without playing its best hockey at the AJHL Showcase in Spruce Grove this Friday and Saturday.
The showcase features all 16 AJHL teams playing two games in front of hundreds of scouts and coaches from all over North America.
Pontiacs head coach Chad Mercier was able to point out some positives from Friday's 3-2 shootout win over the Calgary Mustangs, like picking up the two points, even though he said his team did not play particularly well during the victory.
"We just didn't play that good", said Mercier.
He said his players competed a lot harder in Saturday's 4-3 overtime win against the Brooks Bandits.
"Our guys were a lot more diligent, we competed harder. We were more physical Saturday. And we were able to clamp down in those times we needed to and then Ryan Kearns did a great job finding a way to win it in overtime."
Mercier attributed a lot of the credit to his goaltender, 17-year-old Curtis Honey, who made 29 saves and another seven more in the shootout - after the Pontiacs gave up the tying goal with nine seconds remaining in regulation time on an unlucky bounce.
"For a 17-year-old kid to respond and play the way he did through overtime and then the shootout and to not give up anything shows the mental strength he has," Mercier said. "He is making tough saves look easy and his focus and mental maturity is well beyond his years."
Pontiacs co-captain Dante Borrelli potted Bonnyville's two goals, including a shorthanded marker in the first frame. It was defenceman Blake Leask scoring the shootout winner against the Mustangs.
Mercier said these are two veterans he expects to contribute in some form on a nightly basis.
"You need your older guys, your veterans to come through for you and that's definitely a positive, them coming through for us this weekend."
The Pontiacs only managed 11 shots against Brooks, but Mercier said the five-on-five play was nearly even.
Brooks got out to the early lead, scoring seven and a half minutes into the contest, before Bonnyville responded with goals from Tommy Barszcz and Max Collins in the second to take the 2-1 lead.
The Bandits notched two of their own, on the power play in the third, while Levi Ansell scored for Bonnyville, keeping the game tied and headed for overtime.
Kearns ended it three minutes into the extra frame with his third goal of the season.
Leask, who sits tied for eighth in the league in scoring with 11 points through nine games, was unable to add to his point total at the showcase, but his timely shootout goal and strong play all season has impressed his coaches.
"Overall his play at both ends of the ice has been tremendous," said Mercier. "He has been a real leader for us."
Heading into the showcase weekend, the Pontiacs were among the top teams in the league on the power play, but dropped off a little after going 0-9 combined over the past two games. Bonnyville now sits at seventh in the league, converting on 17.74 per cent of power plays.
Mercier said the power play has been strong so far this year and his players will just have to regroup and work harder on getting pucks to the net and creating chances that way.
The annual showcase weekend has become a big event for the league in gaining exposure for the league and its players.
Mercier said though his players weren't all at top form, it is still important to get as much exposure as you can as a young player.
"These players are on the radar screen already, but it's good to get them another look. From that standpoint this is great for the teams and the league as a whole."
Two Pontiacs were suspended over the weekend. Kevin Carthy was suspended two games Friday for a hit from behind against Calgary and will miss Wednesday's game in Bonnyville. Borrelli was also suspended two games for a questionable boarding penalty in Saturday's game. He will sit out the next two games, pending an appeal by the Pontiacs organization.
Sitting with a 7-2 record, second in the AJHL's North Division and only a point behind Spruce Grove, the Pontiacs have returned home from their road trip and will play its next three games in the friendly confines of the R.J. Lalonde Arena.
The Pontiacs play Lloydminster Wednesday before taking on the Drayton Valley Thunder at home on back-to-back nights Friday and Saturday. Puck drop for all three games is 7 p.m.
