Pontiacs drop the Rangers 5-1, win 5 straight

You Pontiacs continued their heated win streak last night dropping the South Grenville Rangers 5-1, making that 5 wins in a row for the home team.

Before the game started the Pontiacs held two on-ice presentations. 

First off, Karen Campbell was announced as the winner of the custom Pontiacs Breast Cancer Awareness jersey raffle draw. The Pontiacs had held a fundraiser for the month of October to support Breast Cancer Awareness. Congratulations, Karen!

October's player of the Month, Julien Arruda was then presented a plaque & gift by diamond sponsor James Lafleur - REMAX real estate for his on-ice performance and start to the season. A presentation well deserved that later led to a 3 goal performance and first star of the game.

The Pontiacs came out strong and fast, outshooting South Grenville 17-4 in the first period. The Pontiacs couldn't put one past Jordan Provost until the one minute mark when #6 William Dagenais ripped a shot from the slot beating the net minder, giving the home team a 1-0 lead with assists to Keyshawn Francis and Marc Olivier Racine Roy. Although the Rangers didn't manage a ton of shots in the first, rookie net minder Marc Antoine Plouffe made a handful of key saves, keeping the Pontiacs 1-0 lead into the break. 

During the first intermission the fans were given a 5 minute spectacle put on by the Shawville Figure Skating Club Senior Skaters. The Rock n' Roll on ice performance led by McKenna Kluke, Mackenzie Smith, Nora Mackechnie, Grace Mackechnie, Molly Dowe, Keira Drummond and Morgan Tracy featured twists, turns, jumps and balancing acts gathering many round of applause from the home crowd.

The second period was a fiesty battle. "Forteen penalty calls made for a slow second period" says Coach Findlay. "It isn't the type of game we want to play, it's the complete opposite identity that makes us a fast and effective team. Do I think it got out of hand and could have been avoided? 100%". The back and forth trips to the penalty gave the Rangers hope, shots were 11-10 in favour of the visiting team and the game stayed tight with a 2-1 Pontiacs lead. Shawville's second goal was netted by #4 Julien Arruda, with assists to Joey Brennan and Jean-Robin Mantha.

"We regrouped after the second and got back to our game" said Findlay. "Play fast, attack the opponent with our speed and skill, force turnovers, and attack again. Our team has wave after wave of attack. Keep it simple, play fast and honest hockey, and the skill set will take over". 

The Pontiacs netted three more in the third period and led the shot clock 38-18.

Julien Arruda netted his first hat-trick of the season, and Jacob Roy-Lauzon added one more on the powerplay with assists to Brennan, Dion and Mantha, finishing the 5 game win streak for the home team.

"We're proud of how our boys have started the first quarter of the season. We have a great group of young men who enjoy playing for one another. It makes it easy to come to the rink" says Coach Peter Howes.

The three stars of the game were announced as;

 1. Arruda (Shawville)

 2. Provost (South Grenville)

 3. Plouffe (Shawville).

Your Pontiacs return home next Friday, November 14 vs. the Arnprior Rivermen (7:15pm warmup) in an evening to support and appreciate Shawville District Minor Hockey Association - players, staff, volunteers and parents.

For complete box score results check out the NPHL link below

https://shawvillepontiacs.hockeyshift.com/stats#/988/game/1097769/boxscore