The Bonnyville Sr. Pontiacs didn’t make the playoffs this year, but they finished their season on a high note.
They defeated the Westlock Warriors 10-4 in their last game of the season on Sunday, Jan. 20.
“We weren’t going to be in the playoffs,” explained head coach Corey Wandler. “We finished last, and we knew that. It was a game that meant nothing in the standings, and we just wanted to come out and put in a good effort, give ourselves the opportunity to win a game... and leave the rink with a smile.”
The Pontiacs wanted to win for themselves and their fans.
“Coach Wandler stressed... that these two points matter... more to us than they do for them. (We wanted) to put in a good effort and finish the season on a high note. That was important for us,” expressed captain Lucas Isley.
The Warriors were first to find the back of the net minutes into the game.
Mid-period Ty Carey scored the Pontiacs first goal of the night.
Westlock broke the 1-1 tie with a powerplay goal a few minutes later, but was once again bettered by the home team when Isley answered with one of his own.
Isley capitalized again with a powerplay goal to finish the first period in the Pontiacs’ favour 3-2.
“It was a sluggish start for us, but once we started going we took over the game and we out-chanced them. We were the better team, and all-in-all, it was a good effort from our guys,” Wandler expressed.
Just over five minutes into the second frame Westlock added to the scoreboard tying the game for the third time.
Carey brought the Pontiacs back into the lead with another goal.
Their success wouldn’t last long, with the Warriors once again finding the back of the net.
With the game 4-4, Bonnyville’s Adam Knapp finally broke the tie once and for all with a powerplay goal.
Carey netted a hat trick with a powerplay goal with less than four minutes left in the second frame.
The Pontiacs continued to build off of their success after the team’s second hat trick of the night from Isley.
“This was the first game I played in two months due to injury, so it was nice to come back and put a few in the back of the net,” recalled Isley.
Dru Morrison added another point in the home team’s favour, bringing the score up 8-4.
Following suit with just over four minutes left on the clock was Ryan Rancier. Adam Tillford would get his name on the scoresheet before the end of the night, solidifying the Pontiacs 10-4 win.
Wandler said, “This was the last time this group of guys were together, so we wanted to enjoy the night, listen to our victory song one last time, and give our fans a night to enjoy... It was a great night for us. Obviously, we would have liked to be in the playoffs, but at least we got to end things on a positive note.”
