The Olds Grizzlys stumbled out of the starting gate Saturday night at Bonnyville and never recovered.
The Grizzlys trailed 5-0 before getting consecutive third-period goals from Brandon Clowes and Jordan Kancsal. Bart Moran added an unassisted marker with Olds trailing 6-2 and the Grizzlys went on to drop a 7-3 Alberta Junior Hockey League decision to the host Pontiacs.
Tommy Barszcz fired three goals for Bonnyville, which got singles from Paul Lamoureux, Levi Ansell, Logan Harland and Dallas Ansell.
Brandon Thiessen turned aside 35 shots in the Olds net, while Curtis Honey made 32 saves for Bonnyville.
• The Grizzlys encountered the same problem — a poor start — 24 hours earlier in a 5-2 loss to the Oil Barons at Fort McMurray.
Tanner Dunkle and Sean Davies scored for Olds — which trailed 1-0 after one period and 3-0 after 40 minutes while being outshot 34-15 — while Thiessen turned in a 42-save effort. Brody Hoffman stopped 25 shots for the Oil Barons, who got two goals from Justin Rose and singles off the sticks of Killian Hutt, Matt Szpak and Mike Marianchuk.
The Grizzlys will entertain the Calgary Mustangs Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and will visit the St. Albert Steel and Grande Prairie Storm Friday and Saturday.