Despite a roster ravaged due to injuries and the flu, the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs were still able to pull out a win 2-1 win over the St. Albert Steel last Saturday at home, though their fate was not the same two nights earlier in Lloyminster, where the Bobcats handled the undermanned Pontiacs 3-1, in the teams' final matchup of the regular season.
The Pontiacs were missing seven players last Wednesday in Lloyd — three to injuries and four to the flu — and their play reflected it, said Pontiacs defenceman Jordon Krankowsky.
“We didn't play well,” Krankowsky explained. “We just sort of went through the motions and got it handed to us a bit.”
Forward Ty Carey scored the only goal for the Pontiacs in the loss.
With the flu bug seemingly moving its way through the roster, the Pontiacs took the day off last Thursday, before getting in a high-tempo practice Friday.
Krankowsky said the rest helped, as the team was still short-staffed going into the game against St. Albert but showed a lot more energy.
“We have a bunch of guys on this team that get out there and start throwing their weight around and it gets the rest of the guys riled up and I think we just build off of that.”
After a slow start to the game, the Pontiacs really picked up their play, out-hitting, out-skating and out-shooting the Steel, on their way to opening the scoring halfway through the second period on a blast from the point by Krankowsky, for his fourth goal and 16th point of the season.
The physical play continued, as forwards Max Collins, Ryan Kearns and Dallas Ansell continued to pound Steel players anytime they touched the puck.
After the Steel tied it up late in the second period, the Pontiacs regrouped and came out hard in the third.
Forward Jackson Dudley eventually notched the winner, jamming one in short-side on Steel goalie Ty Swabb, who made 33 of 35 saves, holding St. Albert in the game.
The goal was Dudley's fourth of the year and his 13th point.
Mercier commended Dudley and several of his players following the game, noting their ability to raise their level of play at key times and continue to improve as the year progresses.
“I thought Dudley had one of his stronger games. He wasn't flashy. He just did all the little things and really competed for us,” explained Mercier. “It's been a big adjustment for him coming from midget, but he is really starting to make strides and it was nice to see him get rewarded with the game winner.”
Mercier said the energy and physical play his team has showed will lead to more consistent play in the long run.
“When we started to hit and get physical the consistency picked up and that's what we're going to need to continue if we're going to have success,” he said
The Pontiacs have always defined themselves as a team difficult to play against, maintaining a physical edge, and Krankowsky believes the physical play will only increase as the season continues.
“I think we're starting to build a hatred towards other teams. We respect them, but we give them the business and we let them know we're there anytime we get the chance.”
Co-captain Kevin Carthy agreed, “Going down the stretch, we're going to need it. We've increased in size and everyone in our lineup can hit and when we start really running and gunning and throwing hits we can run these teams out of our building.”
Pontiacs co-captain Dante Borrelli and forward Jake Towriss remain out of the lineup with injuries, while several others are still suffering the effects of the flu. Both Ty Carey and Blake Leask left Saturday's game with undisclosed injuries, which left the Pontiacs roster very short.
But Carthy said his team's depth and character are coming through in the tough times.
“There's so many guys out right now — hurt, injured, sick — but we still find ways to win and battle through it,” he explained.
“We have tons of character on our team and getting through it just makes us stronger.”
The Pontiacs next action is Friday at home, where they will take on the Okotoks Oilers at 7 p.m. Bonnyville will travel to Spruce Grove the next night for a matchup against the North Division leading Saints.
