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Pontiacs v Canucks Sept 26
Photo Credit: Jena Colbourne Lakeland Connect Pontiacs v Canucks Sept 26
The R.J. Comes Alive for Pontiacs Home-Opening Weekend
The Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs brought hockey back to the R.J. Lalonde Arena this weekend, opening their home schedule with a pair of hard-fought games in front of the hometown crowd.
Bonnyville pushed the Devon Xtreme all the way to a shootout Friday night before falling 4-3, then returned Saturday and fired 41 shots at the Calgary Canucks in a 3-1 loss.
Ahead of Friday’s home opener, Pontiacs Head Coach Chad Mercier told Lakeland Connect that establishing the R.J. Lalonde Arena as a difficult place for visiting teams to play is a priority for this year’s group.
“The atmosphere in the R.J. Lalonde Arena can be a difference maker for the home team,” Mercier said. “One of the things we want to make sure this year is that this is a hard rink for opponents to come into.”
A crowd of 721 packed into the R.J. for Friday’s home opener, and the Pontiacs gave them plenty to cheer about early.
Bonnyville’s Logan Hilderman opened the scoring just 1:56 into the game, with an assist from MacDougall, sending the home crowd into celebration almost immediately.
Devon tied it 53 seconds into the second period, but the Pontiacs answered at 13:19 when Popil scored his first of the season, assisted by MacDougall and Walters, to restore Bonnyville’s lead.
The Pontiacs made it 3-1 early in the third when Vanderberg scored his first of the season from Boldt and Kinniburgh.
Devon, however, battled back.
Mason scored twice in the third period, including a power-play goal at 12:56, to tie the game 3-3 and force overtime.
Neither side could find the winner in the extra frame. In the shootout, Devon’s Ball scored the lone goal as the Xtreme escaped Bonnyville with the 4-3 victory.
The Pontiacs outshot Devon 13-12 in the opening period, while Devon finished with a 38-34 advantage overall. Pilon made 34 saves for Bonnyville.
Mercier said before the game that this year’s roster is still coming together, with several players joining the group shortly before the home opener.
“We’ve probably got seven, eight or nine guys [who] have only practiced four or five times with us,” Mercier said. “So it’s fairly new to everybody.”
He said the coaching staff is working to balance establishing structure with letting the players play instinctively.
“The game happens too fast, and so that process will take some time to get on the same page,” Mercier said. “But I think the energy and the compete is something that needs to win out here for us.”
That compete was evident again Saturday night against Calgary.
The Canucks took a 1-0 lead with just 21 seconds remaining in the first period before Ivanov extended the advantage to 2-0 midway through the second.
Bonnyville turned up the pressure significantly as the game progressed.
After recording nine shots in the opening period and 13 in the second, the Pontiacs peppered Calgary with 19 shots in the third period alone.
That pressure finally paid off at 10:30 when Morin scored his first of the season on the power play, assisted by Shushkov and Vanderberg, cutting Calgary’s lead to 2-1.
The Pontiacs continued pushing for the equalizer, but Calgary goaltender Hutchison held the line. An empty-net goal from Sherpa with 2:09 remaining sealed the 3-1 Canucks victory.
Bonnyville finished the night with a commanding 41-19 advantage in shots, including a 32-7 edge over the final two periods. Hutchison turned aside 40 of the Pontiacs’ 41 shots.
The weekend also marked the beginning of a milestone home season for the organization as the Pontiacs celebrate their 35th anniversary.
For Mercier, who has spent many years with the organization, the anniversary carries plenty of meaning.
“You reflect on the people that have been through this organization in the past,” Mercier said, remembering people who helped build the Pontiacs over the years, including Don Sadura, Jim Martin and Milton Romanchuk.
“People who were so valuable and vital to this organization, along with the past players and everybody,” he said. “We want to certainly put an effort out that makes us proud.”
Lakeland Connect will be along for the ride throughout the 35th anniversary season. Jena Colbourne will be behind the lens capturing Pontiacs game-day photography this year, while fans who can’t make it to the rink can listen to the games live on Lakeland Connect.
The Pontiacs now hit the road for another two-game weekend.
Bonnyville travels to Drumheller on Friday, October 2, to take on the Dragons at the Drumheller Memorial Arena. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
On Saturday, October 3, the Pontiacs head to Calgary for another crack at the Canucks, this time at Ken Bracko Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Fans can listen to both games live on Lakeland Connect.
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