Pontiacs Trample Mustangs 7-1

The Bonnyville Jr A Pontiacs took a huge road win in Calgary Tuesday evening against the Mustangs. Associate Coach for the Jr A Pontiacs, Larry Draper says the club was more in sync as a team than he’s seen in a while; even without their top point-getter, Derek Brown, and trusty leader, Head Coach Rick Swan, both men at the World Jr A Challenge camp.

“We had a little scare early in the game,” the Mustangs put in the first goal, on the power play, at 7:31 from Ethan Kopyczyn. “But it took all of 13 seconds to score one,  Luke Israel scored off the rebound slotted by Charlie Gawlicki. They boys played well.” The goals kept coming with Captain Ryan Symington getting the go-ahead at 17:17, on the power play, from Alden Dupuis and Gen Bryshun. Dupuis then flipped it around and got a goal from Brandon Whistle and Symington to close the period 3-1 Bonnyville.

“Before the trip Coach Swan talked about the We versus the Me, and [Tuesday] the We kicked in, big time. We had four lines going, the boys played very well and played for each other,” Draper says the squad came together after some losses at home before this road trip.

9:49 into the second period Brendan Holterhus placed a goal past Mustang’s goalie, Michael Barabash, from Mitchell Oliver and Ryan Piche; which was followed up by Isaac Saniga, at 11:35, from Trygve Many Guns and Riley Perka to end the period 5-1.

The third continued to be strong and fast for the Pontiacs, Piche took advantage of the power play to make a 6-1 game from Oliver and Holterhus and Whistle finished the job on the Mustangs, putting in the seventh goal for the Pontiacs, from Symington and Oliver. “We had 60 shots to their 28 that game, the boys really came together,” states Draper.

“We know Coach Swan is back in Bonnyville with World Jr A Challenge Team West. We’re moving forward an we’re going to bring back some wins to Bonnyville,” Draper says the team is ready to collect all the points they can on the road. Coach Rick Swan will be the assistant coach to the Team West during the World Jr A Challenge. Associate Coach Draper will take the lead until after the tournament. Top point-getter, Derek Brown is back home in Bonnyville, as well, trying out for the team, explains Draper, “we’re all hoping that he makes it there. Don’t get me wrong, we all think Derek is a great player, but his goal was to make the team and we’re pulling for them.”

The team will face the Canmore Eagles tonight at the Canmore Recreation Centre, then it’s Brooks on Friday and Drumheller on Saturday. The Pontiacs continue their road trip through December and will not return to the RJ until after the new year.