Sr. Pontiacs steal Game 1 against top ranked Morinville

The Sr. Pontiacs have themselves a series.

They snuck into the playoffs in the 8th and final playoff spot to match up against the defending NCHL champions in the Morinville Kings on Saturday for Game 1.

Tanner Corbeil and Lucas Isley each scored three points and Eric Szudor made 38 saves to win Game 6-3 setting up a quick rematch Sunday afternoon back in Bonnyville.

A late four goal rally with goals in the third period nearly drew the Pontiacs back from a major deficit, but the Kings took Game 2 with a 7-5 win.

“The second period was as eventful as you’re gonna find in the game of hockey with a lot of emotion, a lot of scrums, penalties, power plays. We just wanted to kind of hit the reset button and say, ‘Hey, listen, we haven’t found our game yet. We went through two periods.’ We faced a ton of adversity,” said coach Corey Wandler.

“We gave him everything we had in the third and it just wasn’t enough.”

The Morinville Kings were the top regular season team starting the year 8-0. However, they onky finished 3-5 to round out the year.

Meanwhile, the Sr. Pontiacs rode a three game win streak down the stretch to kick themselves into the last spot.

Bonnyville’s Game 1 victory ensured a second home game in the series as it becomes a best-of-three following the split.

“We got a group that can do it. It’s going to be a huge challenge. I mean, obviously the team we’re facing is the defending champs, the defending provincial champs… but based off what we did the last two games our guys are hungry,” he said.

“As an eight seat underdogs, we’re going to take it.”