Donald Teuma-Castelletti
FORT COULONGE Sept. 23, 2018
The Pontiac Senior Comets made their debut Sunday evening in an exhibition match on home ice, bringing with them plenty of fast action and thrown fists.
After prepping all summer long, the Outaouais Senior A Hockey League (OSAHL) pre-season began with a frustrating game for the hometown team, offering coaches and players a chance to assess the new squad.
The community support was in full force that evening, as 350 people attended the Fort Coulonge Arena to see the Comets take on the Mont Laurier Montagnards.
The first period started with a disappointing opening, as the Comets quickly fell behind. While the Montagnards netted four, with their first coming 50 seconds in, the Pontiac team rallied back.
With just two and a half minutes left in the first, Stephane Trimmed snuck one past the Montagnards, scoring the Comets’ only point of the period.
Cody Waite provided the assist to Trimmed and the crowd couldn’t contain their excitement.
The Montagnards roared back with a vengeance, scoring once more before the period ended.
The Comets’ Mitchell Gibson returned in the second with a fierce determination, netting their second goal just 34 seconds in, with an assist from Matt Sarazin.
Mont Laurier would sneak three more in this period, but Pontiac’s Joshua Snider managed one more before the period ended. The score sat at 8-3 for the visitors.
Frustration grew for the Comets and the show got more exciting for those looking for some classic hockey fights in the second period.
Twice, Brad Quaile was put in the box for roughing, but not before landing a few licks on Mont Laurier players.
Finally, the third witnessed the Comets rally hard once again, with Simon Corriveau scoring four minutes in, and an assist from Landon Punchard.
Their opponents were unrelenting, scoring twice more with less than five minutes left.
Yet again, Gibson returned to net one more, with an assist from Francis Desforges.
When the game ended, the final score read 10-5 for the Montagnards.
The Sunday night game featured a roster that is not yet finalized ahead of the start of the Comets’ regular season on Oct. 6.
Local hockey fans can look forward to another exhibition game on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. when the Comets take on the Cumberland Bandits, once again on home ice.
