BONNYVILLE – Throughout the past week, the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs competed in three high scoring games, collecting two wins and a loss.
On Wednesday, the Pontiacs hosted the Whitecourt Wolverines at the RJ Lalonde Arena. The home team was explosive on the ice, earning four goals in the first period to the Wolverines’ two points.
The Pontiacs remained comfortably in the lead for the entirety of the game. When the final buzzer sounded, the Pontiacs were up 7-4.
While the game’s results appear one-sided, the Wolverines put up a strong resistance both offensively and defensively, but the away team was unable to shut down the opportunities created by the Pontiacs.
Out of the home team’s seven goals, six of them were scored by different players. Those finding the back of the net included JR Ashmead, Cole Hipkin who netted two goals, Matt Giampa during a power play, Sam Schofield, Trey Funk and Ethan Look who had help earning the team’s final goal on the Wolverines’ empty net.
On Saturday, the Pontiacs travelled to Sherwood Park to take on the Crusaders. The match also resulted in high numbers being marked on the scoreboard, only this time the Pontiacs were not the recipients of the win.
The Crusaders took control of the ice early on, scoring three points in the first period, two in the second and one goal in the third period.
Pontiacs’ defenseman Josha Simpson answered the Crusaders’ first goal. Sherwood Park's next four goals would go unanswered until part way through the third period.
The Pontiacs’ second and final goal of the night was earned by Bonnyville rookie Bayden Vandenbilche. This goal was answered shortly after by the hosting team, resulting in a 6-2 loss for Bonnyville.
While the Pontiacs only scored twice, they racked up 28 minutes in the penalty box.
Calls against the Bonnyville team included roughing, unsportsmanlike conduct, as well as a 10-minute misconduct call against Pontiacs’ defenseman Quinton Gove.
Despite the Pontiacs’ numerous penalty kills, the Crusaders only managed to earn one power play point during Friday night’s game.
On Saturday, the Jr. A Pontiacs returned to the RJ arena to host the Drayton Valley Thunder. The match offered redemption from the Pontiacs' Friday night loss.
During the first period, Pontiacs’ rookie Max Seguin put up the home team's first goal about a third of the way through the first period. Nicolas Beaudoin scored a second for the Pontiacs.
Bursting into the second period, Matt Giampa put up a third goal in less than two minutes. Mike Cataldo followed with a fourth goal shortly after.
As the second period neared its end, both Beaudoin and Seguin earned their second goals of the night. The second period ended with Pontiacs counting six goals to the Thunders’ one.
As pressure intensified in the third period, the Thunder was able to earn one more point that was shortly answered by the Pontiacs’ Joshua Simpson during a power play.
The home team finished Saturday’s match winning 7-2 in front of a crowd of 296 people.
The Pontiacs will have a six-day break before hosting the Fort McMurray Oil Barons on Friday Nov. 25 at the RJ Lalonde Arena. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.
