With the likes of last year’s leaders Trey Funk and Matteo Giampa moving on to NCAA Division I college hockey in Canisius, fans were left wondering who would be next in line for the Pontiacs.
Today, the Bonnyville Pontiacs are proud to announce Nicolas Beaudoin will captain the team heading into the 2023/2024 season.
“I’m a kid from the Lakeland area that’s always been a huge fan of the Pontiacs and to have made it to this level and now to be able to represent this talented group of guys as a captain, I feel extremely honored and proud,” said Nicolas Beaudoin.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have been part of this organization for two years now and have past leaders whom I’ve had the opportunity to learn from and I really want to lead by their example.”
The St. Paul native was awarded the AJHL Rookie of the Year last season and was also nominated for the Giuseppe Greatest Teammate Award.
Beaudoin’s rookie campaign saw him establish himself for the Pontiacs both on the ice with 40 goals and 34 assists for 74 points in 55 games played, and off the ice with his leadership and comradery with his teammates.
“He’s looking at other people, he’s listening, and he’s a good talker too,” said head coach Mario Pouliot. “When I sat with Nico, he was the clear choice for me. He’s going to be a really good team captain because he cares.
“Being a team captain is not just about being a good hockey player. First of all, you need to be a really good person.”
With a Pizza 73 Player of the week and Alberta Ford Player of the Month awards under his belt amongst others, there is no doubt that Beaudoin is a good player. But ask any of his teammates and they will be the first to tell you that’s not all he is.
“You need to be a family guy with a lot of caring and great values,” said Pouliot.
“We believe we have a lot of guys with that here, but Nico was our choice because last year we noticed that he was a leader all season long despite not having a letter. He showed to Neil, Chad, and myself, that he was the best choice for our team and our group.”
Alaska Fairbanks commit had the opportunity to play and learn from great players and leaders last year in the form of Trey Funk and fellow Canisius commit Matteo Giampa.
“A great leader and a leader that I want to be is a teammate who truly cares and believes in the guys in the room,” said Beaudoin.
“A guy that will take charge to push each and every player on and off the ice to become the best hockey players and most importantly, the best human beings they can be.
“A great leader pays attention to every detail, keeps the guys accountable and seeks to bring a team with 25 individual players into one strong connected group.”
With all of the moves being made this offseason along with last year’s success, there is a lot of excitement for the Pontiacs heading into this season.
“I’m most excited about the cast of coaches, players and staff that we have this season,” said Beaudoin.
“I’m excited to be back playing Pontiacs hockey, a team this year that will work harder than any other team in the league to reach our full potential and hope to make history in Bonnyville.
“We have to stay focused on the present, take this season one day at a time to take advantage of every opportunity to improve as a player and as a team.
“What will bring the most success for us this year is the right attitude when things are going well but most importantly when we meet adversity.”
Four time recipient of the Interpipeline Rookie of the Week and new Yaks captain’s message to the fans is one of excitement and gratitude.
“Pontiac fans and sponsors, we really appreciate your continued support, and we really couldn’t do this without you,” said Beaudoin.
“You can expect a group of guys that will have pride wearing the Pontiac jersey. Our team is excited to be given this opportunity to represent the organization and the town of Bonnyville.”
With the Pontiacs looking to build off last year’s historic season, adding the right leadership group around their new captain will be pivotal for another great year.
“Nico will be deciding who’s going to be the other players in the leadership group,” said Pouliot. “For me, it was very important for Nico to feel comfortable working with these people because being a leader on a hockey team is not an easy task.
To look at other players making sure everyone is feeling good and if we have things to settle down, they need to be able to notice those things and being able to talk with the players or with myself and find a solution.”
The Pontiacs first home exhibition game is this Saturday, September 2nd, 2023, against the Lloydminster Bobcats at 7:00pm. Tickets will be $5.00 and available at the gate for exhibition games.