The Rockets showed why they’re at the top of the Frontier Division, putting up a goal within the first minute and adding another two over the course of the frame. Though Shawville’s Jacob Roy-Lauzon was able to get one on the board for the home team before the end of the period, it was downhill from there. The Rockets potted another three in the second period, doubling the home team’s shots on net. Marc-Olivier Racine-Roy scored the lone goal for Shawville to make the score 6-2 for the visitors going into the final stretch.

The Rockets had another two in the third, with Shawville’s Raphael Lafontaine netting a last minute power play goal for a final score of 8-3.

Pontiacs coach Darcy Findlay said that this is the first time they’ve played the former champs this season, and the game was closer than the score implied.

“It wasn’t 8-3, you know, they capitalized on some chances, they’re a veteran hockey team,” he said. “They’ve gone through the trenches together for a couple years, winning championships and battling it out.”

He added that there was a lot of scrapping over the course of a rough, physical game, which is not how his team needed to play.

“We can’t get caught up in the crap that happens after the whistle, that’s what I just told my guys. I said, ‘We had a really good start to the year, we scrambled for three weeks to make our lineup somewhat consistent, we’re the furthest thing from what our hockey team really is right now,’” he said. “When it comes to the bodies playing and making all the additions we have too, it takes time to adapt, right, but we’re not a team that gets caught up in that kind of stuff. We’re more of a skill, speed team.”

He added that they’d had some fluctuations in their lineup over the previous few weeks due to injuries and new additions, which has been challenging.

“Nothing’s consistent. Guys who have chemistry from past years aren’t playing together because guys are sick or they’re hurt,” he said. “It’s a bit of a scramble, you toss them in the blender every night and see what happens for the last three weeks. Which is frustrating a bit. But it’s senior hockey.”

The Pontiacs next home game will be on Friday, Jan. 2, against the Madawaska Valley Wolves. The team currently sits in second place in the Pioneer division with a 9-3 record.

Shawville’s Alexandre Lafreniere takes a look up the ice. Photo: Caleb Nickerson.

Pontiacs goalie Antoine Lafleur watches a puck get past him during the game against North Dundas on Dec. 19. Photo: Caleb Nickerson.

Pontiacs Captain Quinn O’Brien had an exchange with a player from the Rockets late in the game. Photo: Caleb Nickerson.

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