The third annual Alberta Jr. A Pontiacs Education Breakfast took place this past Monday morning. Over 300 guests were treated to a wealth of free food and speeches from Pontiacs head coach Chad Mercier and guest speaker former NHLer Craig Simpson in an effort to raise money for the Pontiacs Education Fund.
"It is possible to successfully combine the game you love with furthering your education," said Yvette Shostak a representative for Portage College.
The Pontiacs education fund, started in 2007, seeks to do just that. It has already helped Pontiacs players sign up for 52 different university level courses at Portage College and another 59 players get SAT prep training since it first began five years ago, said Shostak.
Mercier, who spoke toward the end of the event, pointed toward the over 20 alumni players in attendance as proof of what strong support from a hockey organization and a community can do for a player's life.
"These young kids come here and I can tell you, the first month, month and a half, every single one of them that came from out of town has a culture shock," he said. "They have to get use to the size and to the amenities and it's a tough adjustment for them to come at 16 or 17, as young men. Three years later, they're wanting to come back and come see the people that they've met, see the community they gave back to and I think again, that's a credit to everyone here in this facility."
After remarks from a few corporate sponsors, guest speaker Craig Simpson, a former NHLer who captured two Stanley cups with the Edmonton Oilers, graced the stage to discuss his own experiences in the game of hockey and the positivity that comes out of a supportive organization.
Simpson talked about winning his first cup and getting to meet a legend like Gordie Howe. He talked about playing with hockey greats like Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier and playing on teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Edmonton Oilers.
He also talked about the importance of a supportive hockey organization when he reminisced about his first year in the league with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where rookie hazing and an unwelcoming atmosphere made for a losing team.
Simpson said he saw the difference a supportive atmosphere can have when he went to play in Edmonton with the Oilers who at the time had just won the Stanley Cup the year prior.
Simpson pointed to three aspects that helped foster a winning culture in Edmonton: "Inclusion, acceptance and guidance."
He said the Pontiacs organization, by developing things like an education fund, provide a similar type of support for their players. For those playing in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) who have to think about their lives after hockey, support from their team is absolutely paramount.
"I think it's really paramount. That's what I love about the AJHL, the opportunity for the players and their families to come to a situation like here in Bonnyville, where you've got an opportunity to play hockey at a real high level, but also work on the
(idea) of continuing education. As we saw here with the alumni, when you get engulfed into a community like this, you end up with opportunities when your career is over," remarked Simpson, after his speech.
After Simpson was given a chance to speak, members of both the black and white Pontiacs teams that will face each other during Monday nights intra-squad game at 7:00 p.m. at the R.J. Lalonde arena were announced to the crowd and Mercier was able to thank Simpson for attending and the community for their continual support.
"I think Craig (Simpson) did a tremendous job, we knew he would, and certainly I thank all the supporters and the people that come out and contribute to this breakfast. Its grown and I think it speaks volumes not only for our organization, but our community."
