Pontiacs take Eagles 4-1

Add another 2 points to the Pontiacs’ away streak

The Bonnyville Jr A Pontiacs continue to be successful on the road. On Wednesday, the Yaks took on the Canmore Eagles in and while the score was in their favour there was a small incident, says Associate Coach of the Jr A Pontiacs, Larry Draper.

“Everything was going well, until we got to the rink,” Coach Draper says one of the team’s top players, Charlie Gawlecki was injured before even seeing ice time. “He lost an edge and went down, he was hurt and unable to start the game.” While Gawlecki tended to his injuries, the rest of the team battled hard to bring him the win.

Joining the line up on Wednesday night was Derek Brown. After receiving word in Leduc that he had not been selected to represent Canada West, the Pontiacs’ top point-getter got in the car and drove to join the team in time for the face-off.

The Pontiacs opened the night with a goal from Brendan Holterhus, assist from Jake Gresh and Ryan Piche at 8:15 in the first. “The boys did a real good job of sticking with their structures,” Draper reports the team carried on strong through the second period with a goal from Luke Israel off of Dylan Stewart and Gen Bryshun; followed up by a goal from Captain Ryan Symington from Isaac Saniga and Alden Dupuis too close the period 3-0 Pontiacs.

In the mix of all that good, Brandon Whistle was injured and sat out the rest of the game. Then in the third, Jake Gresh was taken out with an injury. No word if any of the three injured men will be in the line up for Friday night.

The injuries didn’t halt the Pontiacs, 48 seconds into the third Dupuis from Saniga and Symington pushed the Pontiacs to a 4-0 lead. The Eagles responded two minutes later, with a goal from Kyle Pauls; but failed to put any more points on the board.

“The guys stuck with it and did a tremendous job,” Coach Draper says he was impressed by the team’s ability to fight past the injuries. “The game was in their control, for most of the play. It was Pontiacs from start to finish.” Draper says the club talked about the effects of positive energy during their post-game meeting, “we talked about the great energy and what causes it; on and off the ice.”

The club is in Banff for a break on Thursday, visiting the hot springs and bonding, before moving on to Brooks to take on the Bandits on Friday.