Pontiacs win at AJHL Showcase, improve record to 5-1-1

Alex Marrocco scored in overtime and the Bonnyville Pontiacs held on in their second game of the AJHL showcase against the Whitecourt Wolverines to win both of their games in Camrose over the weekend.

Friday night’s game against the Camrose Kodiaks saw the Pontiacs put together a gutsy effort with only four defencemen available for the final two periods and overtime.

Forwards Daine Dubois and Kash Rasmussen filled in for irregular shifts on the back end while Cayden Shmyr was being looked at for an injury and Jeremy Gervais saw from the press box serving a game misconduct for checking from behind.

Meanwhile, Easton Hesse maintained his reliable play and the top line of Lucas Thorne, Matt McKim, and Thomas Kramer – briefly suspended for high-sticking on the bench – continued to fill the net.

The Pontiacs held on to a 2-2 tie for the third period against the Kodiaks ensuring the extra point before a fortuitous bounce led to a 2-on-1 where Marrocco off the bench made no mistake top corner.

Whitecourt ousted

Thorne and McKim’s exploits are worthy of the league’s best right now.

That line scored the only two goals in Bonnyville’s 2-1 over Whitecourt on Saturday while those two are currently

McKim set up Thomas Kramer in front of the net, although was not officially credited with an assist, and Thorne’s relentless penalty killing led to a good bounce in the offensive zone to cash in shorthanded.

The Pontiacs fired 40 shots on Vincent Duplessis, but it was the Wolverines feeling sour on a shot on goal didn’t count.

With 0:00 on the clock, Cassidy Bowes roofed the puck in the slot to appear to tie the game. The referees emphatically waived off the goal saying time had expired.

The pair of wins moves the Pontiacs record to 5-1-1 on the season, a strong mark against a mixed bag of opponents.

Another good chance for points this week, as the Yaks will host the Lloydminster Bobcats on Wednesday and travel to the Centennial Civic Centre on Saturday to complete the home and home.

The Bobcats are 1-4-1 to start their year.