The games are there for the Bonnyville Pontiacs, but the wins are needed

The weekend’s pair of losses, 3-1 to Drayton Valley and 5-2 to the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, amps up the pressure on a team that is almost-kinda-sorta-maybe-able to win any given night. Image: Emma Jonker Photography. Kyle Kalamaras. 

The Bonnyville Pontiacs need some wins. 

After a lackluster effort in their first home game of the season against the Drayton Valley Thunder on Saturday, and a tough road loss in a playoff like atmosphere against the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, the season is on the line. 

Chasing those Oil Barons is even more of an uphill battle, especially on a four game losing skid out of the holiday break.

The Pontiacs have the games in hand to do it. They have five more games yet to play than the MOB – three head-to-head remain – and sit exactly 10 points back. 

What is most frustrating though is a note harped on all season long: instead of propelling themselves to wins, the team finds ways to lose. 

The Pontiacs set themselves up for success, then something happens, and they can’t overcome.

The deadline

The Pontiacs were active in the days leading up to the transaction deadline last Friday.

Outgoing are the likes of one of the team’s top scorers in Kailus Green, who was dealt for a future consideration next season from the Grande Prairie Storm.

Plus, defenceman Brady Austin and backup goaltender Ryan Tamelin who were dealt.

But now on the team includes a physical 20-year-old forward Brady Estabrook, who left a sturdy imprint on each of the two games in his debut.

Cameron Doucette, formerly of the Thunder, will now help tend the goal. Lucas Minard is hopeful to arrive soon from the United States.

Associate general manager Chad Nelson said on ENT Oilfield Pontiacs Hockey on Lakeland Connect, that the team wanted to balance a roster of youth, with trying to add pieces for a post-season run.

“We were mindful of what helps us now, and what helps us in the future,” Nelson said before the weekend’s games kicked off.

“That’s why we kept a Myles Gauld and Kyle Kalamaras (two 20-year-old forwards). They’re good people. They’re good in the room. They’re good leaders that can help us going forward. We still feel our young guys need that leadership and guidance, and use that to hopefully push for the playoffs.

Nelson said that the Pontiacs tried to another defenceman, but it “just didn’t happen” citing a need in the future for puck-moving defenders.

Looking at the roster, the team is largely comprised of 2006-born players and younger, and that was in the long-term goal of the organization.

“For us, we feel our young guys have taken a step. Then it’s on our end to keep these guys for next season. The junior landscape is crazy, and players are jumping organizations or leagues or teams. Hopefully we can have a positive second half. They all enjoy the coaching staff and the community of Bonnyville.”

For a league-wide view on the transaction deadline, you can watch Michael Menzies discuss the AJHL with play by play voices: Tim Ellis, Wyatt Zieger, and Fort McMurray Oil Barons.

WATCH: https://x.com/lconnectnet/status/1878915276013498632

Upcoming stretch

The rest of January contains difficult travel spots and enticing matchups.

The Yaks make their first trip to Camrose on Friday night, before returning home to host the Oil Barons on Saturday night.

With Grande Prairie then in town on Tuesday, it’s another split home-and-away weekend coming up against the Lloyd Bobcats.

To wrap up January then is a monster three game northwest trip with a pair of games in Grande Prairie, before finishing the trip in Whitecourt.

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