BONNYVILLE – The Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs organization broke the news on June 3, that the local Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) selected and hired Brad Flynn as the team’s new head coach.
After signing a three-year contract in early June, Flynn is officially the 10th head coach in the 31-year history of the Pontiacs’ franchise. He will replace the Pontiacs’ former head coach Rick Swan.
At 37 years old, the Nova Scotia native has been an assistant coach in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), Western Hockey League (WHL), and most recently, in the Ontario Hockey League with the Saginaw Spirit.
“I am very excited. Everything I've heard about Bonnyville and the Pontiacs has been extremely positive. I'm looking forward to getting back to Alberta and getting ready for the season,” said Flynn in a Pontiacs’ media release.
“I want to build upon the strong foundation here and help build a consistently competitive program. I also want to assist players in their development to help them reach their hockey goals.”
Flynn has a long history as a head coach, assistant coach and director of Hockey operations in the North American Hockey League as well as several other junior hockey leagues.
Associate General Managers Neil Langridge and Chad Nelson said the hiring process was “extensive” to find the right candidate for the position.
“It was a very exhaustive process to find the next head coach of the Bonnyville Pontiacs, which the board of directors entrusted Chad and myself to make sure we found our ideal candidate,” said Langridge.
“Over the span of six weeks we interviewed numerous candidates as there was an extreme amount of interest for the position. We got the pleasure of interviewing Brad early on and he stood out to both of us immediately.”
As the head coach, Flynn won’t have to worry about rebuilding a competitive team – because the Pontiacs are already competitive. Instead, he can focus on what he does best – coaching.
“Through speaking with all of his references, they all mentioned that his work ethic will be unmatched, which speaks volumes about his character and passion for the game... I am very excited to welcome Brad to our community and cannot wait to get to work with him to provide the Lakeland with an exciting brand of Pontiacs Hockey,” he added.
Nelson echoed Langridge’s sentiments.
“It didn't take long in the interview and follow-up process to know Brad would be the right fit for the community, the players, and the organization moving forward,” said Nelson.
“He has a wealth of experience, with connections throughout the hockey world, but also a youthful energy and a creative mindset that will help enhance our player development.”
Over 50 candidates applied for the head coach position with many more who inquired about the role. Only a select handful of applicants were interviewed for the position.
On the June 17-19 weekend, the Pontiacs will also be running a camp in Airdrie with limited spots available. Those interested in participating are asked to contact Nelson at [email protected] for entry.
