MUSINGS

It was pointed out to me this morning that my colour guy for the Grande Prairie game was getting some heat from some Storm fans on another AJHL bulletin board site. My first thought was... First time all year my colour guy gets attacked for something he says and it wasn't Dennis Fontaine. Normally it's Fontaine who stirs up the controversy.

As for what our Storm friends were actually complaining about it's too bad they didn't spend more time actually listening to the broadcast. We gave a lot of credit for the work of the Storm in the first period. They were really on their game. We are a Bonnyville broadcaster however and we do focus on our team and why they may have come out a little flat. My colour commentator "sarcastically" brought up the fact it was the tough game the night before in Drayton. Some people just don't get sarcasm. Oh well. As for the complaints about the officials it was more than just one call. It was a lot of calls and I actually had a chance to listen to Jeff Hensen's (Voice of the Storm) post game show as our post game wrapped up before his (usually the road team is done their broadcast first because the home teams don't have to worry about catching a bus) and as I was packing up all I heard him talking about was the officiating. I agree with him it was really bad that night. Both ways. Regardless... thanks for the plug YakYak.

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More on the game. The Pontiacs really seemed flat in the first period, something that has seemed to be the norm for the first 17 games. Credit though to the Storm who capitalized on their chances, especially Bobby Tyson who picked up a couple goals from the back end off some hard work.

While coming back from 4-0 down isn't exactly the easiest thing to do in the world the Pontiacs kept at it all night and made it a two goal game with time left in the third to at least make it interesting but it was an empty netter than finally sealed their fate and stretched the score to 7-4.

Jordan Harrison got taught a lesson by Pontiac newcomer Ashton Hewson in that game and the lesson was "fists can hurt". Hewson unloaded on Harrison who, I guess, deserves some credit for even attempting to go with the 6'5 231lbs Pontiac.

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Should be a good event to be at Tomorrow night. The 2nd annual 'Pack the Rink Night' at the RJ Lalonde. The Pontiacs lost the first pack the rink night 3-2 to Lloydminster last year. It's a game I remember well because I proposed to my now wife at centre ice during the 2nd intermission. I joked with the boys they had better win because while the wife would remember being at centre ice and be able to tell her friends that story I knew my friends would always ask "so did your team win?" .... Well they didn't win. So they really owe me this year.

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Tailgate party starts at 5:00 with a free BBQ. Pontiac players who won't be dressed for the game will be playing games with the kids in the field house prior to puck drop. The Kool 101.3 rally towels will finally be handed out to the first 1,000 fans to show up. There are all kinds of draws and give-aways and the 50/50 draw is guaranteed to be $1000.

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Day off yesterday for the boys after they got back from G.P. at about 5:00am and at practice today they should expect a good dose of working on attacking with speed and good flow with and without the puck. Okotoks is not a team we see often up here in Bonnyville but they are talented and play a very entertaining brand of hockey that relies on speed and quickness to be effective.

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This is only the 6th game of the year at the RJ with the Pontiacs being mostly road warriors to start the season and it's only the 3rd game against a south division opponent.

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If a Pontiac fan doesn't win that AJHL fan of the year contest on the AJHL site then there is something fishy going on. Easily the best fans in the league are around these parts. Especially when it comes to playoff time. Would be great to see that kind of atmosphere tomorrow.

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I see on the poll that 2 people have voted for 'Other' as most hated team in the league. Who would 'Other' be? Sherwood Park? my only guess.