The Bonnyville Pontiacs are pleased to announce the hiring of Rick Swan as Assistant General Manager and Associate Coach. Swan comes to the organization from the Knights of Columbus Midget AAA club in Edmonton where he has been the head coach since 2008-09. In his time with the PATS Swan coached former Pontiacs including former captains Dante Borrelli and Kevin Carthy as well as Blake Leask. In 2009 Swan won the Glen Sather Trophy as the AMHL Coach of the Year.
“I'm excited for this new chapter of my life to begin and I am pleased to be joining a first class organization in the Bonnyville PONTIACS,” said Swan. “I'm looking forward to hitting the ground running with Spring Camp right around the corner.”
“I've got a lot of trust in Rick as a person, and as a coach” explained general manager Chad Mercier. “He brings a lot of experience, not only playing but coaching at many different levels and has had a lot of success in doing so.”
In Swan's playing days he spent time in the AJHL before eventually ending up at the University of Alberta where he captured the Dave Sweeny Schriner Award as the Canada West scoring champion. SWAN also played professionally in Germany after his time with the Golden Bears.
Swan also brings with him a very strong coaching resume, with 2 years of previous AJHL experience and 8 years of Midget AAA experience. On top of that Rick has spent 10 years in the Hockey Alberta Program of Excellence programs coaching, instructing and mentoring. Most recently he represented Hockey Alberta in a coach exchange with the Chinese Ice Hockey Federation and this past December helping coach Team Alberta to a gold medal at the Under 16 Western Challenge Cup.
With Spring Camp set to begin on April 13th the organization felt it was optimal to have a coach in place but that it was more important to make sure they had the right man for the job and with the hiring of Swan the Pontiacs believe they have accomplished both tasks. The Pontiacs are excited to welcome Rick and his wife Susan to Bonnyville.
For more information please contact General Manager Chad Mercier at (780) 826-2893.