The year of 2015 was a memorable one for the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs as the team reached the third round of the AJHL playoffs for the first time in franchise history, setting a home attendance record along the way.
“We didn't just get to the North Final, we competed in the North Final,” said Pontiacs assistant coach Larry Draper.
The Pontiacs went on a 15-4-5 record over the course of the final 24 games of the 2014-‘15 season, which included a 15-game point streak to end the year.
A three-game sweep of the Drayton Valley Thunder kicked-off Bonnyville's lengthy playoff run and set up a second round matchup against the rival Lloydminster Bobcats.
Bonnyville and Lloydminster engaged in their first ever AJHL playoff series going back-and-forth in a series eventually won in a dramatic game six.
Forward Dillan McCombie scored 49 seconds into overtime blowing the roof off the RJ Lalonde Arena and launching the Pontiacs into their first ever North Division Final.
“I've got to give my two line mates, Kyler Hehn and Evan Warmington, a lot of credit. They both went in hard on the forecheck, the puck popped out to the middle and I just shot it low blocker and it went in.”
The goal sent the record Bonnyville crowd of 2,030 into a frenzy and lifted the Pontiacs to a 4-2 series victory.
Bonnyville met the Spruce Grove Saints in the third round of the playoffs and competed in a hard-fought six game series.
The Saints proved to be too much for Bonnyville to handle, ending the Pontiacs season with a 3-1 victory at the RJ Lalonde Arena in Game 6.
“They guys played great tonight. We sold out. We put everything on the line,” said Bonnyville netminder Troy Trombley after the loss. “It sucks to come out on the bad end of the stick, but we left it all out there.”
The Pontiacs are striving to get back to the North Division Final this year and come out with a different result.
Through the first 41 games of the 2015-‘16 season the Pontiacs are 25-9-7 and sit second in the North Division.
