Pontiacs defeat Kodiaks to extend home win streak

The Bonnyville Pontiacs defeated Camrose Kodiaks extending a seven-home game streak. 

The Yaks faced the Kodiaks last Wednesday, resulting in a 5-2 victory.

Despite having Matteo Giampa and Bodee Weiss out for the Team Canada West camp, captain Trey Funk out with an injury and JR Ashmead serving a suspension, the Yaks still played at full strength, having five different goal scorers, alongside new goalie Cole Tisdale. 

“It’s going to have to be a team effort every night, we will have to rely on different goal scorers,” said assistant coach, Connor Cadaret. 

It was a night for the rookies to step up with four out of the five goals and the chance to catch more ice time and build confidence without the big guys.

‘We accepted the challenge’

“The guys missing are really important players for us, they play big roles, but we accepted the challenge without them tonight,” said Ethan Look, a rookie for the Pontiacs.

The Pontiacs started the action. Brent Hoshowski, a rookie, got his third of the season and the first goal of the game, but the Kodiaks were right behind with the equalizer just a 1:46 later.  

That’s when rookie Mike Cataldo made his way around the Kodiaks’ defence and hit the back of the net on a breakaway unassisted and regained a lead.

With the first frame coming to an end, Hipkin got the dish from Look on what turned out to be the game-winner, bypassing the Kodiaks’ goalie Liam Bechtold once more, leading 3-1 after 20 minutes. 

The communication grew between players in the second and third and it showed, Cadaret shared.

Max Seguin scored his 14th of the season on the powerplay assisted by Tardif and Budd. 

Then, Luka Sukovic scored his first of the season, served by Look with his second assist of the night.

“The players missing are great, but this is just the next man up mentality, guys did step up tonight,” said Sukovic, a rookie for the Pontiacs, in just his third game.

The Yaks defence grew strong in the third, an end was put to the Kodiaks’ push for a comeback, although stirred-up anger was expressed when the clock ran out with some pushing and shoving. 

“Our defence was better after the first, as the game went on we played better, we got louder, our communication was better, it was a nice complete team effort,” said Cadaret.

“That’s the kind of win we need to have as a team, and we need a lot more of them going forward. It’s been nice to string together wins but too many of them scored from one line.” 

Who’s taking over the Yaks net

Ryan Manzella had little time with the Pontiacs but is now a member of the Sherwood Park Crusaders and Bodee Weiss participating in the Team Canada West camp, the Yaks needed to add a new face to the team. 

Cole Tisdale has played for the Camrose Kodiaks, Whitecourt Wolverines, and now the Bonnyville Pontiacs.

“I think the motivation behind the move was we needed someone to push Bodee [Weiss], he’s an excellent goaltender, we’ve seen it. He was just invited to the World Junior A Challenge camp. We needed someone to be on his heels,” said Cadaret.

“We wanna push him in practice and games, making sure he is dialled in at all times. I think Cole will do that, he’s been around the block.” 

Tisdale played his first game as a Yak Wednesday night with 23 saves. 

“With his professionalism and his character will help to calm Bodee down, yet push him to the next level. We have a ton of faith in Bodee and it’s not a panic move that we need another goalie, it was we are a good team and we realize that.” 

Weiss has since returned from camp after not making the Canada West team and can rejoin the lineup, as well as JR Ashmead whose suspension is over. 

The Pontiacs sit 19-11-1-1 and stand third in the North.

The Yaks earned a week off before taking on the Fort McMurray Oil Barons on Dec. 14th back in the RJ Lalonde Arena. 

Their final games before the Christmas break are on the road this weekend, heading to Brooks on Friday and Drumheller on Saturday. 

You can listen to every game, all season on lakelandconnect.thedev.ca/pontiacs.