Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs fans were getting restless. The Pontiacs played only two games at home during the entire month of December. Then came the two-week-long hockey-free holiday break. The team's fast-paced, hard-hitting brand of hockey was missing in action and fans were itching to get it back.
This past weekend the Pontiacs returned to the frozen floor of the RJ Lalonde Arena, giving fans what they were craving so badly and a whole lot more.
On Friday, after becoming physically ill from the flu during the Canadian national anthem, Pontiacs starting goalie Stephen Klein pulled himself together and put on some kind of performance, stopping all 28 shots the Drumheller Dragons threw his way for his first shutout of the season. His teammates did the rest, putting up one powerplay goal and two at even strength for the 3-0 victory.
On Saturday, the RJ was packed and the pace of play picked way up, as the top-ranked junior A team in Canada, the Brooks Bandits, rolled into town with the swagger that comes with a 35-1-0 record and a 16-game winning streak.
The Pontiacs, unfazed, played the kind of game fans have come to expect under head coach and general manager Chad Mercier – gritty, fast and hard to play against – and came out on top, winning 4-3 in a shootout and ending the Bandits second winning streak of 16 games or more this season.
Both teams were flying in Saturday's up-tempo, back-and-forth battle that needed a six-round shootout to decide.
Bonnyville's Spencer Foo opened the scoring just under three minutes into the first period and with just over three minutes to go in the third, Pontiacs leading scorer Tanner Dusyk potted his 16th goal of the season to tie the game up at 3-3.
Despite chances at both ends, overtime decided nothing and the game went to a shootout.
Pontiacs first shooter, forward Mitch Owsley showed the fans a handful of pretty moves before sliding it past the helpless Brooks goalkeeper to open the scoring in the shootout.
After missing Friday's game with the flu, the Pontiacs other starting goalie, Tyler Santos, got his chance to shine Saturday, stopping the first two shooters. But on Brooks' third attempt, the team's captain Anthony Petruzzelli was able to sneak one past Bonnyville's outstretched goalie.
Foo, who opened the scoring, now looked determined to close it out in the sixth round of the shootout. It was no contest, as Foo put in his second goal of the night, leaving it all up to Santos to preserve the win.
As the Bandits last hope to keep the winning streak alive, defenceman Chris Muscoby, barrelled towards the net, Santos stood his ground, waiting for the first move.
Muscoby deked and went to the blocker side, but Santos, fully outstretched, just managed to get his pad on the puck and keep it out of the net.
He immediately jumped to his feet threw his arms in the air and was met by a crushing wave of ecstatic teammates, as they celebrated the victory in front of a jubilant hometown crowd.
“That was the best, most exciting game I have ever seen in this building,” said one long-time Pontiacs fan, as he left the rink.
“I can finally take a breath,” said another, smiling from ear to ear.
Though less dramatic, fans were also impressed with Friday's affair, which saw a lot more chippy, rough play with a lot of pushing and shoving after the whistle.
Despite the style of play, Bonnyville was able to maintain its composure, while also capitalizing on the frustration of the opponent.
Tommy Barszcz opened the scoring for the Pontiacs, while Dusyk and captain Locke Muller added insurance markers in the win over the Dragons.
Pontiacs 16-year-old rookie defenceman Aaron Irving, having just returned from a stint with the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings, put up two assists in Friday's win.
Mercier said this was a big weekend for the team, as it not only picked up four points in the race for top spot in the AJHL's North Division, but the players made major strides towards getting to the level of play the coaches believe they will need to be at in order to be a championship calibre team.
“We're going to enjoy this one tonight,” said Mercier from his office following the game, as music could be heard blasting through the closed doors of the Pontiacs dressing room.
“It's very easy to enjoy it when it's fun like this, but the real lesson will be when we come back to work Monday and have to reinvest and continue to build on what we've started.”
Though both Pontiacs' goalies were at the forefront of the victories over the weekend, Mercier said he was most impressed with his entire team's willingness to do whatever it takes to win.
“Our guys are selling out for each other. We have guys playing through the flu, guys playing through injuries, guys blocking shots. We told them, you can't pick and choose when you have success here. You've got to either really love winning or really hate losing.”
He added, “Our top guys need to continue to be our best players. (Saturday) our top two centres were our best centres, our top two defencemen were our best defencemen and every shift he was on the ice, Locke Muller played like a true captain.
“If we can build off this and continue to get better, then we have a chance to have success.”
With a record of 22-12-8 and tied with the Grande Prairie Storm for second in the North Division, four points back of Spruce Grove for first, the Pontiacs now have just 18 games to go before playoffs get underway.
Bonnyville will play its next four games at home, including two this weekend and two more the weekend after.
On Friday, the Pontiacs will take on the Grande Prairie Storm and on Saturday they welcome the Whitecourt Wolverines to town. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. both nights.
