Pontiacs end year in winning fashion in 4-3 victory over 1st place Wolverines

Image: Emma Jonker Photography. Left to right: Christophe Lussier, Slade Firkus, Mat Lajoie, Brent Hoshowski, and Alex Coventry pose after Firkus scores the The Brick Bonnyville Teddy Bear goal.

From the big win on Teddy Bear Toss night, to a tough loss in the final minute vs the Drumheller Dragons on Saturday, the scene was set for a big matchup against the North leading Whitecourt Wolverines. The Pontiacs stepped up in a major way. 

It was a stylish way to end the calendar year. 

The Bonnyville Pontiacs, without their two leading scorers in Myles Gauld and Kailus Green, saw several players step up for key contributions in a 4-3 victory over the AJHL’s 1st place club in the Whitecourt Wolverines. 

And heading into the Christmas break, the young guns are firing again offensively because they’re going to the mixer – the front of the net.

“It was a total team effort tonight,” said assistant coach Chad Carder in the postgame show. 

“I think if you look at the bulk of our last five games, minus the 2nd period in Devon, I think our team is starting to pick up a bit of an identity, learning how to play the right way and it’s starting to show. We’re playing with the top teams in the league with some younger players, they’re figuring it out, I think we’re doing a real good job.” 

Taming the Wolverines

Maxim Shuskov did get the game’s opening goal with a faceoff shot that blew through Wolverines’ netminder Elliot Pratt but hit the post and sat in the crease, before Pratt knocked the puck into the net himself. 

Slade Firkus, who played another tremendous game, was given initial credit for the goal. 

The Wolverines would soon reply 23 seconds later on a broken play from neutral to tie the game. 

But the Pontiacs found ways throughout the game to create turnovers in the offensive zone, highlighted by Christophe Lussier’s backhand finish upstairs thanks to the sneaky pass from Mat Lajoie. 

Despite a strong start in the 2nd period, Whitecourt started to tilt the ice back in their direction, eventually tying the game on a Jack Pollock shot. 

• The young guns have been hot. Just how hot?
• Christophe Lussier: 3 goals in 4 games.
• Mat Lajoie: 6 points in 4 games.
• Dayton Reschny: 3 goals, 6 assists in 5 games.
• Slade Firkus: 2 goals, 4 assists, in 4 games.

But a tripping penalty less than a minute later allowed the Yaks special teams to take over the game. 

The Pontiacs powerplay broke through with a Dayton Reschny shot that rattled around the blue paint before finally being knocked into the net to give the Yaks lead once again. 

A third period powerplay saw another goal right in front of the net, this time from Porter Byrd-Leitner who cashed in on the Reschny rebound to give Bonnyville some breathing room. 

It was breathing room they needed, because just seven seconds later, another quick response goal made it 4-3. 

A big press from the Wolverines came up short. The Pontiacs defensively held strong, Cody Butikis made a total of 31 stops for the win.

“Our team is starting to get that identity. As long as we come back and keep that same mentality, it’s going to be really nice to get that break. Have guys get their bodies rested and our forwards healthy, and get back after it.”

Terrific Teddy Bear night

The teddy bears came raining down to the RJ Lalonde Arena ice on Friday night thanks to Slade Firkus, who scored early in the 2nd period to tie the action up vs the Olds Grizzlys.

That goal ended a long drought for the hard-working Firkus and is being rewarded offensively for his hard-nosed game.

Followed up by goals from Byrd-Leitner and Lajoie, the Yaks controlled the pace of play and managed pucks well, limiting Grizzlys chances against.

Ryan Tamelin made 33 sturdy stops to pick up his second victory of the season.

Dragons continue to roll

The Drumheller Dragons have the Pontiacs number.

Jase Johnstone converted a powerplay goal with 59 seconds left in regulation on a controversial penalty call to hand Drumheller a 5-4 win.

The late game heroics spoiled what was a strong effort from the Yaks, who held a lead at the 2nd intermission, but couldn’t hold off the undermanned Dragons squad.

This was the 10th straight win for the Dragons at the RJ. Bonnyville hasn’t beaten Drumheller at home since 2017.

Brayden Gourley put his stamp on the lineup as well.

He scored two goals and added an assist in just his second appearance with the Pontiacs lineup. The newcomer from Blackfalds is another under 18-year-old who is showing flashes of tremendous upside.

“It’s been great. All the guys have been great and welcoming. It’s been nice to get back into game shape,” he told Lakeland Connect before his three point outburst.

Special Teams rebound

At the beginning of the season, the special teams were costing the Pontiacs.

Lately, they’ve been on fire. In the last eight games, check out these numbers:

• Powerplay: 10/42 = 23.8%
• Penalty Kill: 22/24 = 91.7%

Only once in the last eight games has the powerplay not scored, and only once in eight games has the penalty kill surrendered a goal.

Overall, these figures now sit 15.5% on the PP (11th but the ability to jump by not even playing games) and 79.3% on the PK (9th).

Notes:

• The Pontiacs sit with a record of 11-14-3 at the conclusion of 2024, which has been a tumultuous year for the organization.
• It began with the early exit of head coach Mario Pouliot on Jan. 10 to Switzerland, to the exit of five AJHL teams to the BCHL, to a new head coach brought in right before the start of the playoffs in Devan Praught, to a tough sweep to Drumheller, to only returning four players from last year’s team, to a rollercoaster 2024-25 season halfway through.
• Fort McMurray will remain with five games in hand after this weekend.
• They go to Devon on Friday and then visit Whitecourt on Saturday.
• At the moment, the Pontiacs sit five points behind for the last playoff spot in the North.
• And one more thing about Pouliot, he was fired by HC Sierre over the weekend…
• With a much deserved break, the Pontiacs resume the season on Friday, Jan. 3 at the Olds Grizzlys.
• The next home game is Saturday, Jan. 11 when the Drayton Valley Thunder come to town.