The Shawville Pontiacs senior hockey team extended its winning streak to four with a 4-3 win on the road in Deep River Saturday against the Arnprior Rivermen, putting them in a tie for league leaders.
Coach Darcy Findlay said that the game was held outside Arnprior because its arena is under renovation, and said he was disappointed with the attendance, which was much skimpier than advertised. “We get there and get out there for a warm up and there’s about 30 people in the stands. So it was a let-down from both the length of the drive plus the energy in the building,” he said. “So it was a tough night mentally for our guys. That being said, we still gutted out the win . . . but it took us a while to get going.”
Arnprior opened up the scoring with a goal in under a minute, catching the Pontiacs flat-footed. Shawville’s star player for October, Julien Arruda, got his team back in the lead with two goals in the first, but the Rivermen snuck another in on a power play with only 16 seconds left.
Marc-Olivier Racine-Roy and Jean-Robin Mantha, each assisted by Arruda, put the Pontiacs ahead late in the second. Arnprior could only manage one goal at the start of the third for a 4-3 final score for the Pontiacs.
Findlay said that similar to last year, when the Pontiac Senior Comets played Arnprior in the playoffs, the Rivermen were saved by the skill of their goalie Carlen Lyle.
“They didn’t generate a lot of offence, I think we might have doubled them in the shots,” he said. “We got 60 shots against them and they ended up beating us in the playoffs [last year]. He’s a big goalie, he’s mobile, you’ve got to get in front of him and create rebounds. There’s not a lot happening that’s just clean.”
Findlay said the team was continuing to gel, and added that he is extremely impressed with the teams’ attendance, playing with a full squad almost every game.
“We’ve never seen this kind of commitment ever playing senior hockey,” he said. “Last year we played with half a lineup all year long [ . . . ] When you take things seriously, when you put in the time and effort people see it and you know, give the time back.”
When THE EQUITY spoke with Findlay he said the upcoming road game against the North Dundas Rockets might be rescheduled, since it takes place the day following Halloween.
The Pontiacs will have a string of three home games in November, and Findlay said that each would have a special theme.
“We’re really working hard to create some events during our November home games,” he said.
“Obviously three weeks at home during hunting season is a bit difficult.”
On Nov. 7 the Shawville Figure Skating Club will put on a five minute rock and roll performance. The game on Nov. 14 will be minor hockey night and will feature coaches challenges. On Nov. 21, the team is partnering with Shawville Giant Tiger to do a toy drive for the local Angel Tree project.
