Pontiacs Claim First Home Win of the Season with 4-1 Victory Over Olds

The Bonnyville Jr A Pontiacs returned to R.J. Lalonde Arena for a weekend doubleheader, splitting their home stand with a 5-2 loss to the Drayton Valley Thunder on Friday before responding with a 4-1 victory over the Olds Grizzlys on Saturday.

After spending seven of their first nine games on the road, the Yaks were finally back in familiar territory October 16 and 17.

The weekend delivered a little bit of everything: a frustrating third period, several players opening their season scoring accounts, a strong performance between the pipes and a Saturday night response that gave the hometown crowd plenty to cheer about.

For head coach Chad Mercier, the weekend was another opportunity to measure a group still finding its chemistry.

Mercier: A Hardworking Group Still Finding Its Offence

Ahead of Friday’s matchup, Mercier joined Lakeland Connect’s pregame show to discuss the team’s development through the opening weeks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League season.

With significant roster movement since opening weekend, the head coach acknowledged that building chemistry has taken time.

“We’ve got probably eight or nine new guys since the opening weekend,” Mercier explained. “So really it’s only been five to seven games for guys, so you’re starting to see some of that stuff.”

Despite the adjustments, Mercier said there were encouraging signs.

“We’re starting to climb, starting to get better, but certainly got some work to do.”

Asked to describe his squad, the coach didn’t hesitate.

“I think it’s a hardworking, tenacious group.”

But he also identified an area that needed attention.

“We’re trying to find some chemistry, trying to find a little bit of offence five-on-five. Our power play’s been fine.”

Mercier estimated Bonnyville’s power play was operating at approximately 23 to 24 percent heading into the weekend, but stressed that generating more offence at even strength remained a priority.

“I like the group’s intention and purpose. They’re a close-knit group. We’ve just got to find some offense.”

That assessment would become especially relevant over the next two nights.

Friday, October 16: Thunder Pull Away Late in 5-2 Win

The Pontiacs opened their home stand against a Drayton Valley Thunder squad that Mercier had described as deep, experienced and well-structured.

And the Thunder showed why.

Drayton Valley opened the scoring at 13:07 of the first period when Ganser capitalized on the power play.

But Bonnyville answered quickly.

Just 1:45 later, defenceman Maxim Shushkov scored his first goal of the season, with Matthew Hilderman picking up the assist.

The teams headed into the first intermission tied 1-1.

Bonnyville grabbed its first lead of the night midway through the second period when Bakker scored his first of the campaign on the power play at 13:36. Shushkov and Vanek Popil collected the assists.

Unfortunately, that lead lasted only seven seconds.

Drayton Valley’s Watson responded at 13:43, tying the game 2-2 and sending both teams into the final frame on even terms.

The third period would decide it.

With Ismail Abougouche in the penalty box for tripping, Drayton Valley’s Ross struck on the power play at 12:59, giving the Thunder a 3-2 advantage.

Bonnyville pushed for the equalizer, eventually pulling Jake Pilon for an extra attacker.

The gamble didn’t pay off.

Pyatt scored into the empty net at 18:34, and Hill added another empty-net marker with just 15 seconds remaining.

The Thunder skated away with a 5-2 victory.

Both teams finished with 25 shots, but special teams proved costly for Bonnyville. Drayton Valley converted twice on three power-play opportunities, while the Pontiacs went 1-for-2.

Pilon made 20 saves on 23 shots, with the final two Thunder goals coming into the empty net.

It was a game that remained within reach until the final minutes, but one the Yaks couldn’t close out.

 

Saturday, October 17: Yaks Answer with Four Unanswered Goals Against Olds

Twenty-four hours later, the Pontiacs were back at it.

And this time, they finished the job.

The Olds Grizzlys struck first when Bagley scored on the power play at 16:35 of the opening period.

Bonnyville trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes, despite holding a 12-10 advantage in shots.

But the second period brought a shift in momentum.

At 15:13, Harrison Boldt scored his first goal of the season, finishing a play from Louis Prystupa and Abougouche to pull the Yaks even.

Just 2:21 later, Hilderman put Bonnyville in front.

The young forward buried his third goal of the campaign at 17:34, with Nicholas Morin drawing the assist.

Two goals late in the middle frame, the Pontiacs turned a one-goal deficit into a 2-1 lead.

This time, the opposition had no immediate answer.

Instead, the Yaks kept coming.

At 10:51 in the third period, Cold Lake product Connor Nickle scored his first goal of the season, with Ewen Willers and Schellenberg getting the assists.

Bonnyville now had some breathing room.

With Olds pressing late, defenceman Braeden Payne sealed the win with an unassisted empty-net goal at 17:24, his first of the season as well.

Four unanswered goals.

A 4-1 final.

And two much-needed points on home ice.

 

Bell Holds the Line as Pontiacs Find Their Finish

While the offence came alive, Maverick Bell delivered a steady performance in the Bonnyville crease.

The Maple Ridge goaltender stopped 24 of 25 shots, surrendering only the first-period power-play goal before shutting the door the rest of the way.

The Pontiacs outshot Olds 36-25, including a 13-4 advantage in the second period when they took control of the game.

It was the kind of response Mercier had been looking for.

Bonnyville didn’t need a power-play goal to turn the game around. In fact, the Yaks finished 0-for-4 with the man advantage.

Instead, the comeback came through even-strength production, with Boldt, Hilderman and Nickle finding the back of the net before Payne’s empty-net finish.

For a team whose head coach had spent Friday afternoon talking about the need for more five-on-five offence, Saturday’s performance offered an encouraging answer.

A Weekend of Firsts and a Team Finding Its Footing

The Pontiacs finished their two-game home stand with a 1-1 record, six goals for and six against.

But the weekend was about more than the final scores.

Shushkov and Bakker got on the board Friday, while Boldt, Nickle and Payne opened their season goal totals Saturday.

Hilderman continued to contribute offensively, adding a goal and an assist across the two games, while Shushkov finished Friday with a goal and an assist.

Cold Lake’s Nickle also got his first of the campaign in front of the home crowd.

The contrast between the two nights was sharp.

On Friday, the Pontiacs surrendered the go-ahead goal in the third period and couldn’t recover.

On Saturday, they erased an early deficit, took control in the second and protected their lead through the final 20 minutes.

It’s the kind of consistency Mercier and his coaching staff are working to establish.

With a roster that has changed considerably since opening weekend, the Yaks are still developing their identity.

But Saturday offered a glimpse of what that identity could look like: hard on the puck, contributions throughout the lineup and a goaltender giving his team every opportunity to win.

One weekend. Two very different results.

Another step forward for a Pontiacs team determined to turn progress into points.

Lakeland Connect provides play-by-play coverage and game photography for the Pontiacs.

Up Next: Storm Rolls Into Bonnyville for Weekend Doubleheader

Fresh off their first home win of the season, the Yaks return to R.J. Lalonde Arena for back-to-back games against the Grande Prairie Storm.

Friday, October 23: Bonnyville vs. Grande Prairie Storm | 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 24: Bonnyville vs. Grande Prairie Storm | 7 p.m.

Saturday brings Yakoween, featuring candy giveaways, themed drinks, $5 beer until the second period and more! Plus, don’t miss Puppy Mayhem during the first intermission.

The Pontiacs will also be looking for a little payback after falling 2-0 to the Storm in Grande Prairie on October 10.

Tickets are available at tickets.bonnyvillepontiacs.ca.

Can’t make it to the rink? Catch Wandler on the play-by-play with Lakeland Connect.