Sr. Pontiacs Had Chances in 7-3 Loss to Eckville

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The Bonnyville Sr. Pontiacs are 0-2 to start the season after Saturday’s 7-3 loss to the Eckville Eagles.

The Pontiacs were missing a couple of their top offensive threats Lucas Isley and Tanner Corbeil, and ran into a hot goaltender Travis Yonkman.

“We had our chances. We got snakebitten a few times,” said Coach Corey Wandler. “I don’t think we should get discouraged over that. We found a way to find the back of the net. It took half of the game but we got a powerplay goal and we had a lot of good looks. Chances were there.”

Down 5-0 early, the Yaks made a change in the net putting Josh Paul between the pipes. That gave the team a spark.

“Newcomer” Joel Bourget brought some excitement to the team scoring one in his first game in three years. His shot on the powerplay shot rang off the crossbar and could’ve changed the complexion of the game.

“He’s just positionally smart. He reads the ice well. Strong with the puck. He can make plays is the biggest thing. I don’t think it matters who he’s with on the ice, he finds those areas where the puck is going to be. Just a smart player.

“He got a big goal for us. On the powerplay I put him on the point, set up a backdoor feed, and I think he rang it off the crossbar or the post. If that goes in, you know, we’re probably in a one-goal game down the stretch here, so that was a crucial part of the game and that was because of him taking that open ice and going to that area for that backdoor pass.”

Bourget also had a breakaway chance.

The Pontiacs will play Whitecourt this weekend at the RJ Lalonde Saturday at 7:30pm.

“I think it’s coming. We saw guys driving a little more with their lines, their chemistry, making plays. You want to score as many goals as you can, three isn’t probable enough in this league. It’s coming, that’s the big thing,” said Wandler.