Local Sports

After admittedly not playing up to par over the past three games, the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs responded with back-to-back shutout wins over the Drayton Valley Thunder at the R.J. Lalonde Arena this weekend.

It was a great day to run on Thursday and when all was said and done, two local schools would claim zone banners in cross country running, on home turf at Westcove. In the 1A division, Mallaig School took the zone banner.

The 2011-12 North East Alberta Junior B Hockey League officially dropped the puck on its regular season this month, with games in a handful of arenas across northeastern Alberta.

The midget AA Northeast Panthers kicked off their season with a tie against the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers at the R.J. Lalonde arena this past Saturday, despite dominating the game as they outshot the visitors 35-19.

The Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs showcased the team's ability to win without playing its best hockey at the AJHL Showcase in Spruce Grove this Friday and Saturday.

Last Saturday, 20 Lac La Biche Minor Hockey players looked every bit as professional as the Portage College players they skated with at the Voyageurs season home opener.

The St. Paul Lions gained more momentum on Friday night with a big win at home against the Bonnyville Voyageurs, winning with a final score of 35-2. “We played an outstanding game today,” said coach Todd Tanasichuk, after the game.

The St. Paul Lions earned another win in an exhibition game against the Vegreville Vortex 49-6 on Tuesday, ahead of its big division match against Bonnyville on Friday. The Lions hit the field running and took the lead 25-0 by the first quarter.

The Saddle Lake Warriors defeated the St. Paul Canadiens for a second time 13-4 in pre-season Junior B action at the Clancy Richard Arena on Tuesday in St. Paul.

The Bandits and the Voyageurs played the Cold Lake Royals at the 2nd Annual Scott MacDonald Memorial Fundraiser on Sept. 23.