Pontiacs crush Canucks to split home weekend tied for 6th

Image: Bonnyville Pontiacs Instagram.

The Bonnyville Pontiacs earned their first victory in the post-Pouliot era on Sunday afternoon, beating the Calgary Canucks to leapfrog the southern opponent and the Lloyd Bobcats for a share of 6th in the standings as of Monday. 

Seven different goal scorers lit the lamp in Nathan St-Germain’s return to Bonnyville, who was dealt just days ago to the Canucks in a deadline move. In the debut of Kyle Hagen, the Yaks’ major acquisition, he looked impressive and athletic in his 25 save performance.

It was a pivotal game in terms of standings and having nearly an identical record with the Canucks, which ends the season-series 3-0-1. 

“It shows the depth of our team,” said assistant coach Ryan Blocha in the B&R Eckels Pontiacs Postgame. 

“The other thing we can say is, look at Nico. Last game he blocked a shot and bruised his knee, had to go to the hospital and get x-rays. Kinda loosened it up yesterday. Today he’s +5…what a warrior.” 

Bonnyville’s defensive zone was shored up after a 6-3 loss against the Okotoks Oilers on Friday night, also the last head-to-head between these two, with a 2-2 split. 

The Yaks lacked focus and sharpness in their own end, and a familiar fault in the lack of execution haunted them, particularly in the 1st period, where they likely deserved a better fate than trailing two into the intermission. 

Sunday’s victory settles the waters surrounding the team lately.

“It was fun to be part of. What a good group of players we have here.” 

Players and staff react to Pouliot exit

The Pouliot resignation to take a pro coaching job in Switzerland was just two days before the Pontiacs resumed their season, and on roster deadline day. 

Captain Nicolas Beaudoin was asked about his feelings surrounding that situation.

“Obviously, it’s been a tough pill to swallow,” Beaudoin said pregame on Friday.

“He left the Pontiacs organization better than he found it. We appreciate everything he’s done for us in the past two years. I know I’m going to miss him, I know a lot of people will miss him. It’s a great opportunity for Mario and we wish him the best. We still have the same goal to go as far as we can this year. We still have the same group of guys that I still believe in, and that’s all that matters.”

Assistant coach Darick Ste-Marie said he was surprised when he heard the news and didn’t know it was coming.

He said the team’s structure will stay largely the same, with some tweaks here and there.

“It was a shock, but that’s things we don’t control,” he said. “I’m really happy for him. I’m really grateful for everything he did for me and the team. I learned a lot from him, and we want to keep going on the same track.”

Associate general manager Chad Nelson joined the 2nd intermission on Friday night to discuss what the plan is moving forward.

“We’re in a tough stretch right now with Blackfalds, Okotoks, Calgary and Brooks. Hopefully there’s some light at the end of the tunnel. But every game in this league is difficult,” Nelson said.

“We’re searching. It’s a unique situation, but after tonight we’re done 70 per cent of our schedule. To bring someone in and change our system or make mass changes to our structure that’s been in place is going to be very difficult to do, because just the time to adjust to that will probably mean it’s the end of the season.

“We need someone that could possibly come in and has been through it before as a player or a coach, has had that experience coming in mid-term. They could come in and assess the situation and tinker with it, and see from there. Maybe that results in something more going forward into next season.

“We’re weighing all options and we’re also evaluating and seeing how our guys are handling the situation in terms of our players and current staff as well.”

Injury bug bites hard

They say the best ability is availability, which is something in short supply at the moment for this group.

Billy Batten missed both games on the weekend and Levi Green has missed three straight as well up front. Now injuries to Jack McAra, who got crumpled into the boards on Friday and missed Sunday’s contest, and captain Nicolas Beaudoin, who blocked a shot and left Friday’s game but did play Sunday, leave the team even more undermanned.

The Yaks could only dress 11 forwards vs the Canucks, one of which was an affiliate in Michiel Leenders, who didn’t look too out of place.

Not to mention consecutive games missed for defenseman Michael Ryan and Pierre-Olivier Allard who left Sunday’s matchup, plus the ongoing saga of Brendan Pentecost, there is lack of players available for this team right now.

We’ll see if they get relief in time for Wednesday’s matchup vs the 1st place Brooks Bandits to end their three game homestand.

After that, the Pontiacs go on the road on Saturday against the Camrose Kodiaks, and then Tuesday, January 23 at the Drayton Valley Thunder.

You can listen to every game, all season on lakelandconnect.net/pontiacs and lakelandconnect.mixlr.com