Despite being lower than the Bobcats in the standings, the Bonnyville Pontiacs proved to be a formidable opponent for the hometown team. The Bobcats and Pontiacs played a stingy game tonight ultimately being decided in the 3rd period with Bonnyville coming out on top 3-2 over the Bobcats.
The Bobcats were looking to stay hot against their arch rival Bonnyville Pontiacs on Halloween night. Coming into Thursday night’s tilt the Bobcats had gained at least a point in 7 straight games and looking to extend that streak to 8. Meanwhile the Pontiacs were on a three game losing streak, looking to spoil the Bobcats run of success with a win of their own.
Unfortunately for the Bobcats it wouldn’t be the start they had hoped for. After a fairly dull start for both teams, Bonnyville capitalized on a quick turnover with a player going to the net as Locke Muller got the Pontiacs on the board first. The Bobcats failed to get anything going in the 1st period, and it got worse after taking a late penalty. With only 29 seconds left Luke Mahura would deliver for Bonnyville on the power play to give the Pontiacs a 2-0 lead heading into the locker room.
After coming up short in the first period, the Bobcats looked to rebound quickly. It took only 58 seconds in to the 2nd period for Eric Therrien to get the Bobcats within one, to make it 2-1. Therrien capitalized on a rebound for his 7th goal of the year, assists coming Lukas Biensch and Grant Baker. The scoring would continue in the home teams favour , this time on the power play. Troy Rapuano would score his 4th of the season to tie up this North Division showdown 2-2. Assists coming in from Braden Crone and Austin Yaremchuk. After 40 minutes we were all evened up.
Both teams didn’t give much in way of scoring chances in the third period, but the lone goal in the final 20 came from the stick of the visiting team. Bonnyville’s Spencer Foo would score the game winner off a stick deflection in front to put the Pontiacs ahead. The Bobcats would continue to charge but they would find themselves down a man in crucial minutes late in the game. It wasn’t the Bobcats night as they have their 7 game point streak snapped in front of their home crowd.
Coach/GM Garry VanHereweghe was disappointed with the overall team’s performance, “From the time the puck was dropped they just outworked us on the one on ones, they won the odd man rushes, they won the face-offs, they went to the net harder than we did. It seemed everything they did, they did a little harder than we did. I think we were floating a bit on our last success; Bonnyville isn’t that type of hockey team.” For Garry and the Bobcats, you have to put this one behind you and keep going, “this time of the season, that mid part of the season, that’s where you start establishing and opening up those gaps, set yourself up for the finish and we’re into that right now, we can’t take nights off.”
The Bobcats have an opportunity to start up a new winning streak this Saturday, November 2nd when they host the Calgary Mustangs. Puck drop for that game at the Centennial Civic Centre is 7:30 PM.
Happy Birthday to River Beattie who turned 17 today!