Join the Bonnyville PONTIACS on March 10th, 2017 for a tribute to former PONTIAC great Jon KALINSKI by honoring his contributions to our organization as both a player and citizen in our community.
Jon played 110 games with the Bonnyville PONTIACS from 2003 to 2005 scoring 69 points and amassing 263 penalty minutes. The next year Jon would leave for Mankato State to play NCAA Division 1 hockey.
In 2006-07 KALINSKI enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign at Minnesota State and was drafted at age 20 by the NHL Philadelphia Flyers.
In 2007-08, in his third and final season with Minnesota State-Mankato (WCHA), Kalinski would play in a career-high 39 games with the club. He recorded 18 points with the team before moving to the Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL). In five regular season games with the Phantoms, he recorded three assists and added a goal and two more helpers in 10 postseason games with the club.
In 2008-09 Jon would spend most of the season with the Phantoms, registering 10 goals and 7 assists. He would manage to dress up in 12 games with the Philadelphia Flyers, scoring his first NHL goal.
Jon would play a total of 22 games in the National Hockey League and 279 games in the American Hockey League for Philadelphia, Hersey, Norfolk and Adirondack before retiring in 2014.
Kalinski's NHL value as a player was his emerging abilities as a prime agitator. He gained a knack for riling up opposing players and drawing penalties. He was also always willing to stand in and take physical punishment for the chance to make a play, a quality which made him popular among teammates. He was a true 'sacrifice player' with outstanding intangible abilities.
Jon Kalinski was also a very good two-way forward who developed a knack for scoring timely goals. He was an outstanding skater with good NHL speed and quickness and was a fierce competitor.
After retiring Jon returned to Bonnyville where he makes his home with his wife Kelsey and two daughters Olivia and Nora.
“The Bonnyville PONTIACS organization, their fans and the entire community are excited to be involved with Jon's tribute as he is extremely deserving of it having had a great career with the PONTIACS and in professional hockey. It was important for the team. It was important for the fans. It was important for the whole Bonnyville community to recognize Jon's hockey accomplishments as it represents the privilege it is to be a Bonnyville PONTIAC. What Jon KALINSKI represents is if you work hard and stay on a committed path your journey can lead you to accomplish great things,” says Head Coach and General Manager Rick SWAN.
It will be a great night.
7:00 Pre-game warm-up
7:15 Flood
7:25 Introduction of the KALINSKI Family
7:25 Introduction of Alumni followed by Jon’s Introduction
7:30 Dim Lights
7:34 Announce BONNYVILLE PONTIAC stats – followed by NHL team played for Philadelphia,
7:36 Play Ceremonial Music – Raising of the Banner
7:40 Lights – Jon’s Speech
7:45 Clear Ice, ceremonial puck drop by Jon and game time
On March 9th the Bonnyville PONTIACS will have the first captain Mike GERMANN in attendance and dropping the puck during a ceremonial face-off. Mike GERMAIN was the first player signed by the Bonnyville Pontiacs after the franchise was accepted to the Alberta Junior Hockey League for the 1991-1992 season. The first of many accolades that followed, Germann was named team captain prior to that inaugural season. The 1993 season saw Germann named as the Pontiacs Most Valuable Player as well being named to the AJHL All-Star Team. Additionally, Germann was the first recipient of the Pan Canadian Petroleum Scholarship, awarded annually to a member of the Bonnyville Pontiacs.