As of August 16th, 2024, Chad Carder has been hired as the assistant coach of the Bonnyville Jr A. Pontiacs.
Newly hired assistant coach Chad Carder will join head coach Aryton Nikkel and assistant coach Chad Taylor behind the bench for the Bonnyville Pontiacs this season.
Carder has spent the past 11 seasons with the West Kelowna Warriors of the BCHL as the goaltender and skills coach, including the 2015-2016 Warriors which went on to win the BCHL, Western Canada Cup, and the RBC Cup (currently the Centennial Cup).
In addition, Carder is already very familiar with Pontiacs head coach Aryton Nikkel. Both coach Nikkel and Carder have worked together for the last five years over their time with the West Kelowna Warriors.
“I would just like to thank the Pontiacs organization for giving me this opportunity,“ said Pontiacs assistant coach Chad Carder. “I have always been someone who works hard to develop players on and off the ice. The hockey rink is my second home (or first, if you ask my wife), I always try to create a positive, fun culture around the rink and in the community.
“From day one of speaking with Neil, Chad [Nelson] and the rest of the staff within the organization, I could get a strong sense of direction of where they saw their team going in the coming years. Everyone has common goals and are equally motivated to bring a championship to Bonnyville!”
Carder’s experience as a goalie along with his extensive time as a goaltending and skills coach, helps solidify the bench from all angles and adds a fresh perspective and resource to the Pontiacs organization and the Bonnyville community.
“I have a very upbeat, positive attitude,” said Carder. “I like to be honest and straightforward, communicating in a constructive manner. Having been a goalie coach for almost 20 years, I definitely see things differently and like to teach players to look at things from a different perspective.”
The Calgary native noted that he can already tell Bonnyville loves their hockey and is ecstatic about getting to meet new players and coaches as well as for the opportunity to help them get to the next level.
“We are very excited to welcome Chad Carder to the staff,” said Pontiacs head coach Ayrton Nikkel. “He is a person that has won championships as a player and a coach at multiple levels of hockey.
“I have worked with him daily for a number of years and with his versatility as a coach, his attention to detail and his love for the game, I believe he will not just be a great asset to our team, but the entire Bonnyville community.”
Carder also played junior from 2006-2010. In that time, he played for the Olds Grizzlys and Grande Prairie Storm of the AJHL as well as the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL. He was awarded Goaltender of the Year with the Grande Prairie Storm in 2009 and helped lead them to their second AJHL championship in franchise history.
Chad Carder will step onto the RJ Lalonde ice for this first time next week at the Pontiacs U13 Elite Development Camp and the U15 Young Futures Camp. Fans can also look forward to meeting the entire Pontiacs staff and players off the ice Saturday, August 24th, at the Pontiacs Annual 2 Person Scramble Golf Tournament.
“I’d like to thank the West Kelowna Warriors and the community back home for the last 11 incredible seasons.
“I will always be grateful for the opportunity to have worked with each and every player and goaltender who had faith in me as a coach. As well as all of the coaches and management who helped to develop me into the coach I am today. It’s the end of a great chapter, but I am looking forward to writing the next one, even better!”
