Pontiacs fall 5-1 in Final Reg Season Home

Pontiacs four points back of third with two games remaining

The Bonnyville Pontiacs had a chance to pull into a tie for third place with Spruce Grove on Tuesday night. Spruce Grove managed to get a four point lead on the Pontiacs in the standings by the end of the night. The Saints beat Bonnyville 5-1 at the RJ Lalonde Arena.

Jordan Thomas opened the scoring for the Saints on the powerplay at 2:07. The Pontiacs would answer back quickly. PJ Morrocco wasted no time burying a pass from Dylan Stewart to tie the game at one a piece just 20 seconds later.

The second period would see the Pontiacs fall into a three goal deficit. Team Canada West standout from the World Junior A Challenge back in December, Ian Mitchell picked up his second point of the night on his goal 7:39 into the second period. Mitchell’s goal gave Spruce Grove a 2-1 lead at that point. Ryan McKinnon and Jordan Thomas would pick up the other two goals in the period for the Saints. The Pontiacs offense sputtered a bit only managing to put up seven shots in the second period.

Up 4-1 in the third period, Spruce Grove was met with a fierce Bonnyville offence. The Pontiacs piled up 18 shots in the final frame, but couldn’t solve Brandon Wells for a second time. Sandro Silvestre was pulled from the Yaks net after allowing the fifth Spruce Grove Goal of the night, just ten seconds into the third. Robert Jacobsen faced three shots the rest of the way, and made each stop.

Spruce Grove left Bonnyville with a 5-1 victory, and a four point cushion on third place in the AJHL North Division over the Pontiacs.  Bonnyville is on the road the rest of the way, with the last two games of the regular season in Drayton Valley on Friday and Grande Prairie on Saturday.

“We weren’t prepared, and that’s commitment, the goals they scored against us were defensive zone breakdowns.” Head Coach Rick Swan told Husand Chad on the Lake City Coach Post Game Report.

Everything wasn’t all losses for the Pontiacs. Captain Ryan Symington was named the AJHL’s most dedicated player on Tuesday.

“Obviously it’s a huge honor to be nominated, but to find out from [Coach Rick Swan] that I won it, it was a big surprise.” Symington said of winning the award.

“Ryan’s a tireless worker in the community. He’s the first one to step up and volunteer for initiatives that involve giving back.” Rick Swan praised Symington’s efforts that contributed to his recognition as most dedicated player.