Your Drumheller Dragons took to the road on Friday night to face the Bonnyville Pontiacs for the first time since they met in the playoffs back in early 2024.
Back then, the Dragons were able to sweep the Pontiacs in the first round of the playoffs, and were hoping that success would continue. The Pontiacs are a different team with only a few players from the team of last year and a new coaching staff.
The game would begin with Bonnyville having a number of great opportunities to take the early lead in the game, but Dragons goaltender Sean Cootes would make multiple big saves to keep the game scoreless. The Dragons would get on the board first with Aiden Connell scoring his fourth of the season, from Nathan Hawkins and Ayden Peters at 13:35. Drumheller would take the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Early in the second, the same line that scored in the first period for the Dragons would capitalize once again. Devon Winder would score his fourth of the year, assisted by Ayden Peters, at 2:52, giving Drumheller the 2-0 lead. Drumhelller would then have success on the power play. Bradley Gallo would score his league leading 16th goal of the year, from Ellis Mieyette and Will McLaughlin at 10:08. Then, just over two minutes later, Drumheller would again be on the man advantage and Easton Daneault would fire one on goal. It would make it through Pontiacs goaltender Ryan Tamelin, giving Daneault his ninth of the season, assisted by Ellis Mieyette and Will McLaughlin. The Dragons would lead 4-0 after two periods.
In the third, Drumheller would have more of the chances, although Sean Cootes would be tested. With less than two minutes left in the game, a questionable hit against Dragons forward Jase Johnstone by Myles Gauld didn’t sit well with Drumheller captain Tate Yule. So much so that he would square up with Gauld and drop the gloves. It would be a good tilt, with Yule getting a couple of good shots in. Things would calm down and the game would wrap with the Dragons taking the 4-0 victory.
Shots on Goal
Drumheller – 29
Bonnyville – 35
Power Play
Drumheller – 2/4
Bonnyville – 0/5
3 Stars
- Sean Cootes DRM (35 saves on 35 shots)
- Ayden Peters DRM (2 assists)
- Will McLaughlin DRM (2 assists)
The Dragons will look to continue their winning ways on Saturday night as their road trip continues in Lloydminster. We’ll have all the action on the “Home of the Dragons” New Country 92.5 with Jason Blanke and Boedy Shields starting with the Western GM Pregame show at 6:45 PM and puck drop at 7 PM
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