It's onto the next one for the Jr. A Pontiacs, as Bonnyville punched its ticket to the second round of the 2012-13 AJHL playoffs with two decisive wins in Drayton Valley over the weekend to take the first-round series 3-1.
It's onto the next one for the Jr. A Pontiacs, as Bonnyville punched its ticket to the second round of the 2012-13 AJHL playoffs with two decisive wins in Drayton Valley over the weekend to take the first-round series 3-1.
After a Jekyll and Hyde performance at home to start the series, with Bonnyville putting together a solid performance in its game one double-overtime win, but falling flat in its game two shutout loss, the Pontiacs traveled to Drayton and played like a more mature, confident team, taking games three and four by scores of 2-0 and 7-0.
Chad Mercier, Pontiacs head coach and general manager, said he saw a lot of growth in his team during the latter part of the first-round series.
"We've talked a lot about this team having to mature and I think we saw some of that occur during this first-round," explained Mercier.
"Obviously there are some things we'll have to work on and improve on. But I think part of that maturity is recognizing that and knowing that regardless of what happened the day before, you have to saddle up everyday and come to the rink ready and prepared to play."
He said the strong response of his team after the game two loss and after having a quick start in game three and then letting the intensity drop off, were positive signs.
"It was a tough demanding series, which they all are. But we stuck with things and elevated when we needed to and we learnt from some of our mistakes, which are all signs of maturing and if we can continue to mature as a group and recognize that this is only the beginning, I think we have a chance at success."
Mercier said, with the first round behind them, the team's total focus now has to be on the task at hand.
"We talk about having a short memory at this time of year and after today (Monday) there's no more talk of round one. That's over and behind us. We didn't get here just to win round one.We have the mindset that we are going to continue to move forward and push to be as good as we can the moment round two begins."
Although results were unavailable by press time, the Pontiacs did not know their second-round opponent until late Monday evening, following the fifth and deciding game between the Fort McMurray Oil Barons and the Whitecourt Wolverines, with the winner taking on the Pontiacs in round two, which is tentatively scheduled to start Thursday in Bonnyville.
Mercier said it doesn't matter which opponent his team faces in round two, right now the Pontiacs are focusing on what they need to do to be successful.
"Obviously we look at who we might be facing, but our focus in on what we need to do to be successful. We're not going to re-invent ourselves," he explained.
"We gotta do what we do and do it at a high level and make teams react to us."
After sitting on the bench for games one and two, Pontiacs goalie Tyler Santos started games three and four and posted two shutouts. Santos was also named the game three star, stopping all 38 shots thrown his way.
Mercier did not tip his hat as to who would be the starting goalie when round two begins, but he said his team's goalie situation is where he would like it.
"We are happy with our goaltending this year," he said. "We're confident with either guy in net and feel like we can call on both goalies in any occasion."
The Pontiacs have also received some reinforcements on forward, as 20-year-old Max Collins returned to the lineup for games three and four.
The Pontiacs are still missing leading scorer Tanner Dusyk and 20-year-old Levi Ansell, who are both out with upper-body injuries.
Check AJHL.ca for a full round-two playoff schedule.
