Pontiacs flex muscles in weekend sweep over Bobcats

Trey Funk extended his point streak to nine games, Ludo Tardif and Mike Cataldo scored two goals each, and Bodee Weiss turned aside 30 shots as the Pontiacs won 7-2 on Saturday vs the Lloyd Bobcats. 

It was a sweep of the ‘Cats, after a 4-3 home ice victory the night before – four big points that puts the Pontiacs ahead of the Sherwood Park Crusaders by one point after this weekend in 3rd place. 

The Yaks continue to dominate this rivalry – or former rivalry – going 5-0-1 vs Lloyd and improving their record to 28-18-3. 

“It was probably one of our more complete games in the last little while,” said Yaks assistant coach Connor Cadaret. “We went over a lot before on the way we want to play — the good things we did — we didn’t really want to pile on too much onto the things we need to correct.”

A reverse from Friday night – where the Pontiacs scored all four goals in the first nine and a half minutes – on Saturday Bonnyville progressively got better as the game wore on. 

Funk is red hot right now, alongside Ludo Tardif who had three points as well, and Cole Hipkin, who answered the call with a 3rd period scrap as well. 

Lloydminster native Chayce Schmidt, in perhaps his last game ever in his hometown, got an assist on the game’s first goal by Mike Cataldo, as that line continued to generate opportunities. 

JR Ashmead buried his 7th goal of the season on a wicked wrister top corner, Brent Hoshowski scored his 4th of the season, and Bonnyville’s penalty kill was terrific, going 100 per cent after eight chances against. 

“Everything we do this month is going to be a focus for the playoffs. And in order to win in the playoffs you need depth scoring, so it was really good to see that. It was good to see the D contribute as well. But the top nine has been has been very consistent, has been very good, and good defensively too. Chemistry happens in not just the offensive zone but the other two zones as well.

“I thought we broke the puck out really well we’re a lot more connected. We’re back supporting the puck we weren’t trying to stretch and cheat the game so that was a really good thing to see,” said Cadaret.

The Yaks have won six of its last seven games and approach this week by playing four consecutive at home: Tuesday and Wednesday night vs the Drayton Valley Thunder, hosting Olds on Saturday and Calgary on Sunday afternoon. 

Both the Thunder and Grizzlys are last in their respective divisions, while Calgary sits 7th in the south. 

It’s an opportunity for the Yaks to make some hay in the North Division standings at a time when their are getting contributions from throughout their lineup. 

“We’re just gonna have to manage our time on the ice and make sure we’re all rested. And we can keep playing this way. Because the way that we want to play you need energy, you need to be able to roll four lines, three pairs. So rest is going to be key the next 10 days. We might have to monitor some some injury situations, make sure that guys are going to be fully healthy going into the playoffs.”

Notes

• Trey Funk has the longest active point streak in the AJHL at nine games. Since Jan. 13, the Yaks captain has 5 goals and 10 assists and cracked the 20-goal plateau. He sits third in goals behind Giampa and Beaudoin and 5th in points on the club. 
• Ludo Tardif has found chemistry with Funk, scoring 21 points in 24 games played since arriving in Bonnyville. 
• Only one goaltender has played more minutes than Bodee Weiss this year, as the second-year netminder played terrific again on Saturday. His rebound control continues to improve as well as finding timely saves. 
• The Yaks now have 10 shorthanded goals this season. Three by Funk, three by Cataldo, two from Giampa (who missed a shorthanded breakaway on Saturday), and one by Beaudoin and Baker. 
• For just the second time all season, Giampa was held pointless in back-to-back games. He sits 4th in league scoring with 70 points.  
• The Yaks penalty kill creeps over 81 per cent, and is 5th in the league on the road. 
• New Bobcats and Bonnyville local Caden Cabana has made a big impact since being acquired. He’s earned 11 points in 12 games. 
• JR Ashmead now has four goals in his last six games. 
• Nico Beaudoin remains in spitting distance of the league-lead in goals, sitting three behind Aiden Fink with 30. 
• Drayton Valley enters this midweek set on a nine game losing streak and eight points behind Grande Prairie and Lloydminster for the last playoff spot. Since head coach and general manager Sean Brown resigned on Jan. 10, the team has won just once. 
• You can listen to every game, all season on lakelandconnect.thedev.ca/pontiacs.