The Westlock Senior Warriors are in a dogfight for top spot in the North Central Hockey League following a 6-4 Nov. 10 home win over the Bonnyville Pontiacs.
Riding a four-game winning streak, head coach Mike Ivey said there’s still some room for improvement.
“We didn’t have our best game tonight by any means,” said Ivey.
“We came out hard but then let off the pedal and they capitalized on that. Definitely have to give Bonnyville a lot of credit for staying in the game. It made for a lot tighter game than it should have been, but a win’s a win.”
Taylor Heck found Nicholas Bourgeois to put the Warriors up 1-0 two minutes into the game. Bourgeois returned the favour a few minutes later with some help from Kolbe Waldner when the pair fed Heck who made it 2-0.
Then with eight minutes remaining in the first period Jake Chizma found David Carr on a breakaway to make it 3-0.
However, the Pontiacs didn’t fold and managed to score two to make a 3-2 after the first.
Following a scoreless second period, Brett Bujold scored in the third to make it 4-2, before Bonnyville responded with a pair of goals three minutes apart to tie the game — the tying goal came shorthanded.
But Westlock wouldn’t be denied and at 2:37, Mike Ivey scored to give them a one-goal advantage.
The Pontiacs pulled their goaltender and Heck put the nail in the coffin with an empty netter.
Coach Ivey said the team had an all-round effort and congratulated goalie Mike Towle who turned aside 17 of the 21 shots he faced.
“It was his first start today and got a win in net,” said Ivey. “He’s a great team player, he’s always been there for us so we’re really happy for him.”
The Warriors are on the road for the rest of the month with a Nov. 18 stop in Daysland, followed by a trip to Whitecourt Nov. 24. The club’s next home game is Dec. 14 when they host the Morinville Kings.
