Over 30 games in suspensions handed out combined in Pontiacs & Oil Barons end of game donnybrook

There was no love lost in the final Bonnyville Pontiacs and Fort McMurray Oil Barons game of the season – the first of 2023 for either team on Sunday – but the final score was not what everyone was watching at the end of the game. 

The Yaks had several opportunities, but could never find the lead and dropped their third contest to the Oil Barons on the season in a 3-1 defeat, but the shenanigans at the end of the game will have long term impacts for both teams throughout January. 

With 19 seconds left in regulation and the game essentially over, the first fight broke out between Liam Rodman and Max Seguin. Rodman appeared to drop his gloves and swing at the Yaks rookie winger a couple of times before Seguin could respond. 

The clock soon ran out afterwards, but the tensions only escalated. 

Nico Beaudoin and Brett Boucher got tangled up in a scrum near the goal, while Ludo Tardif was put in a headlock by Keefe Gruener and they wrestled each other to the ice. 

Just as things were starting to ease, newcomer Travis Baker decided to go full tilt with Connor Chalmers, resulting in a beauty of a scrap where Baker landed several left hands and ripped Chalmers sweater off. 

This escalation drew the ire of Yaks head coach Mario Pouliot, who proceeded to climb onto the dasher and bark at Oil Barons head coach Adam Manah between a single pane of glass, just a few feet away from each other. 

The combination of these events resulted in 31 games total in suspensions. 

The Pontiacs will be without Baker for seven games, Pouliot for three, and two to Jack Budd for his third hit to the head of the season earlier in the game. 

The Oil Barons were handed five games to Rodman, five to Boucher, five to Manah, two to Chalmers, and two for an accumulation of hits to the head for Cade Meiklejohn. 

“Yeah, that was a curious decision by their guy to jump our guy when they’re winning, and the game was basically over. It was pretty clear what their game plan was tonight. A lot of high hits, a lot of questionable plays,” said assistant coach Connor Cadaret in the post-game to Lakeland Connect. 

“You can say it’s a rivalry now, it’s pretty heated. It’ll be nice to get them again and hopefully in the playoffs would be nice, too. But yeah, just kind of some unnecessary decisions there at the end by them, but credit to our guys for holding their own.” 

The game itself was a tough spot for the Pontiacs. 

In their first two games after the Christmas break, the Yaks put together a pair of touchdowns, 7-2 and 7-3 wins over the Lloyd Bobcats, showing little sign of rust. 

Playing and travelling the same day on Jan. 1, their third game in four days, Bonnyville played a tremendous first period, but couldn’t get on the board. 

Seguin’s goal looked good initially, but was disallowed due to the net being off. Two other breakaways were turned aside, and other chances held out by Gabe Gratton. 

Bonnyville failed on its man-advantage opportunities in the 2nd period, and a deflection goal from Ryder Matter gave the Oil Barons a lead.

Tied after Nico Beaudoin’s AJHL leading 28th goal of the season, 1-1 in the 2nd intermission, a Chris Kobelka shot had eyes from the point, which stood up to be the game winner.

“Five on five we we played really well. Our power play just cost us tonight. It started off okay. But then after that we weren’t even generating momentum. We weren’t working. I mean, we got completely outworked in that area,” said Cadaret. 

“You need to find a way. And I thought we did for the most part, we just weren’t quite rewarded…it’s continuing to learn with this group. But there’s still some positives to take away from that.”

The game was marred with some big and hits. When it was said and done, there were 214 minutes in penalties assessed combined.

Top forward Matteo Giampa did not play due to illness on Sunday, as well as Liam Cavan who hopes to return to the lineup this weekend, and Cole Hipkin, who suffered a lower-body injury

These suspensions come as the biggest home game of the season approaches on Saturday night, hosting the Brooks Bandits, who are in no mood to take the Pontiacs lightly.

Bonnyville has beaten Brooks the last two times they’ve matched up.

On Friday night, the Yaks resume by hosting the Canmore Eagles.

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