BONNYVILLE – Not long after the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs wrapped up their playoff run, the organization honoured players and the volunteers who helped the team achieve success on and off the ice at the team’s annual awards banquet.
On Friday night, about 120 people joined the Jr. A Pontiacs at the Nova VIP Lounge to celebrate the achievements of the players from both last season and the 2021-22 season.
Starting the evening with laughs and witty quips was game night commentator and the Pontiacs’ communications coordinator Michael Menzies, followed by speeches from the players themselves who thanked their billet families and the countless volunteers, along with the coaching team and support staff.
Entering the playoff run fourth overall in the AJHL league, Head Coach Rick Swan said the season didn’t end the way they had hoped, but the effort was there.
“All you expect from your players is the effort, the care and the warmth, and these men did give everything that they had,” said Swan.
And while much of the focus is put toward the 25 hockey players on the team, Swan took time to acknowledge the people who work behind the scenes and help make up “who the Bonnyville Pontiacs are.”
Swan expressed that without the sponsors, board members and billet families, among many others who dedicate countless hours to the organization, the team would not be able to see the level of success it has achieved, especially over the course of the pandemic.
The team has been built around people with passion, commitment and dedication, people who try and provide players with a positive growth experience while focusing on players' physical well-being, as well as their mental, spiritual and social well-being. “I know everyone wants to win a championship, that's our goal every single year,” expressed Swan. “Ultimately, this organization has to represent something way more and way bigger than Bonnyville.”
The Bonnyville Pontiacs have the second highest number of junior player commitments to NCAA level hockey in the AJHL franchise, second only to the Brooks Bandits. Since 2014, the Bonnyville Pontiacs have seen 106 of their players commit to higher levels.
Award recipients for the 2021-22 season
Most Gentlemanly Player – Matteo Giampa
Most Improved Player – JR Ashmead
Top Rookie – Charlie Russell
Matt Cook Unsung Hero Award – Austin Saint
Top Defensive Forward – Trey Funk
Top Defenceman – A.J. Macaulay
President's Award – Will Hilfiker
Neil Crawley Memorial (+/-) – Sebastian Tamburro
Top Scorer – Sebastian Tamburro
Regular Season MVP – Kash Rasmussen
Playoff MVP – A.J. Macaulay
3 Star Award – Matt Hennessey
The community and volunteer-based Ma Hebert Award was given to Nick Ozero, who received a standing ovation for his more than 40 years of service to the Jr. A Pontiacs’ and Jr. A teams that preceded it.
A farewell
And as quickly as players arrived from across Canada and the United States to play for the Bonnyville team, after seven months the Pontiac players have already started to return home.
While many of the players are expected to return to the R.J. Lalonde Arena next season, a handful of players are graduating from the Jr. A program and moving on to higher levels of hockey.
Players moving on from the Pontiacs organization include team captain Kash Rasmussen, Bonnyville locals A.J. Macaulay and Austin Saint, Will Hilfiker, Michael Fairfax, Nick Traggio, Alex Danis and Alex Power.