The PONTIACS are an exciting team on the rise with one of the best reputations of treating their players better than anyone else in Junior ‘A’ hockey. We believe that the Bonnyville PONTIACS can offer one of the best opportunities to players with respect to their on and off-ice development and their success beyond Junior ‘A.’ Our current fan base average is 800.
Scouting and recruiting is our ‘back-bone’ to winning a Gas Drive Championship and having the best staff with the widest scope will put us in a position to identify the best players to our organization. By having the ‘best people’ attracting the best players to the Bonnyville PONTIACS, we will continue to grow our program in the right direction. The Bonnyville PONTIACS are pleased to announce the Scouting Staff for the 2017-18 season.
Under the leadership of our Director of Player Personnel Jeff TETZ, the below individuals will complete the Scouting and Recruitment duties to ensure that our organization attracts and brings in the very best players with the highest character.
The sell for Bonnyville is our “Culture” / the “way we treat our players” / our Coaching Philosophy can guarantee Player Development” – that is how we will compete with the most established successful teams and draw the very best players to the PONTIACS organization.
Our focus will always be on young men that have both “ability” and “character” – “not either or.” The Character of our players is what will reflect our culture because now going into every year for the Bonnyville PONTIACS “just being good is never going to good enough anymore.”
Director of Player Personnel and Procurement
Jeff TETZ
Jeff was hired as the Bonnyville Pontiacs Director of Player Personnel eight years ago in 2009. Jeff has been instrumental in identifying and bringing quality players with character into the PONTIAC organization over that time. Jeff is also a main staple of why the Bonnyville PONTIACS continue to be a team and program “on the rise.” Jeff has an impressive hockey coaching background which includes the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Okotoks Oilers and the Fort Saskatchewan Traders. Jeff was also the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers (AMHL) Head Coach from 2004 to 2006 as well as the Spruce Grove REGALS (CJHL) Head Coach in 2002-2003; the Edmonton River Kings (CJHL) Co-Coach in 2001-2002; the Fort Saskatchewan Chevy’s (CJHL) Assistant Coach from 1998 to 2001. Jeff is reflective of the Bonnyville PONTIAC Culture: integrity, professionalism, trust, loyalty and pride.
Jeff is responsible for taking the lead role in scouting and recruiting players as well as for managing the scouting staffs and collecting player scouting reports on players who have an opportunity to play for the Bonnyville PONTIACS. Jeff also acts as an advisor to the Bonnyville PONTIACS in relation to player evaluation and recruitment including overseeing Player Evaluation, Recruitment and Player Support working together with the General Manager, Assistant General Manager and Scouting Staffs to identify areas of need and recruits to fill the needs for the Bonnyville PONTIACS.
jeffwtetz@gmail.com
780-996-8389
Saskatchewan and Alberta Director of Scouting, Recruiting and Junior ‘A’ Transactions Advisor
Dean MOISAN
Dean Moisan was the Director of Player Personnel with the Lloydminster Bobcats and was their Head Scout during their RBC birth in 2015/16. Dean also spent three years as a Head Scout with the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and another 3 additional years as a scout with that organization. In that time, he was a part of the 2012 Broncos team which hosted the RBC Cup and a number of SJHL championships. Dean's experience in Humboldt and his extensive knowledge of local players in Saskatchewan and Alberta along with numerous coach contacts make him a valuable addition to the organization. Dean was also part of the midget elite program in Lloydminster as a coach for years. Dean lives in Lloydminster with his wife and two daughters.
Dean will be responsible for recruiting and scouting players ready to play for the Bonnyville PONTIACS from Saskatchewan and Alberta and Western Canada. He will also conduct research on potential recruits from leagues throughout CJHL West including player research in the CJHL for respective transactions. In addition to player support Dean will be an advisor to the Bonnyville PONTIACS in relation to player evaluation, transactions and recruitment.
dean.moisan@gmail.com
780-870-2608
Eastern Canada Director of Scouting, Recruiting and Junior ‘A’ Player Evaluation
Pat LACELLE
Pat was a former QMJHL scout that knows the behind the scenes portion of the game of hockey, both from a management and business perspective. Pat is currently the Director of Hockey Operations and Advisor for Quebec and Ottawa Regions for The Hockey Group. Teams that Pat worked for include:
• Acadia – Bathurst Titan, the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the Quebec Major Junior League
• Princeville Titans and La Tuque Loups (QJAAAH) as a Director of Scouting
• Trois-Rivières Caron & Guay and Saint-Georges (LNAH) as an Assistant General Manager, Assistant Coach and VP. of Hockey Operations
• Morzine-Avoriaz (France) as an Assistant Coach
• LaRonge Ice Wolves (SJHL) as Eastern CAN/US Scout and Assistant General Manager
Pat has developed many great contacts and close personal connections over the years and has extensive knowledge of players in Quebec and Ottawa regions.
Pat will be responsible for recruiting and scouting players from Eastern Canada and the United States including conducting research on potential recruits from leagues throughout Canada. Also includes player research in the CJHL for respective transactions. In addition to player support Pat will act as an advisor to the Bonnyville PONTIACS in relation to player evaluation and recruitment.
Jojo_pat25@hotmail.com
819-269-0904
Alberta U16 Director of Scouting and Recruiting
Jason WIWAD
Jason is the Director of Families and Youth at Calvary Lutheran Church and has been in Youth Ministry for 20 years. Jason is also the Assistant Golf Professional at Redtail Landing Golf Club and has been involved in hockey as a coach and scout for the past 20 years. Jason coached with the Team Alberta program at the Alberta Cup and Alberta Winter games winning Gold Medals at both the Alberta Cup and Alberta Winter Games. From 2013 to 2015 Jason was the Director of Scouting for Pacific 4 Sports and in 2016 was a scout for Hockey Prospects scouting WHL for the NHL Entry Draft.
As a scout Jason finds it rewarding to be a part of a player’s hockey journey to help players reach their potential and achieve their goals. “I joined the Pontiacs as my wife and I value the culture and purpose that exists in this organization. We are excited to partner with everyone involved to help young men reach their full potential in both hockey and life and to see them become successful members of our communities” says Jason. Jason is married to his wife Anne who is a Psychologist with Alberta Health Services and has a dog named Sophie.
Jason will be responsible for recruiting and scouting players from Alberta with a concentration on the Midget AAA Minor and Canadian Sport School Leagues. Includes conducting research on potential recruits for the Director of Player Personnel. In addition to player support Jason acts as an advisor to the Bonnyville PONTIACS in relation to player evaluation and recruitment as well as player research.
jasonwiwad@gmail.com
780-721-4008
Calgary Area and Southern Alberta Director of Scouting, Recruiting and Junior ‘A’ Player Evaluation
Jeff RICHARDS
Jeff was involved with the Calgary Mustangs organization in the capacity of General Manager and Head Coach for over eight years and is the owner/trainer/consultant of Pucks Hockey Development. Jeff Richards has been involved in hockey for over 40 years as a player, coach and scout. As a player, he enjoyed a successful junior career followed by four years at the pro level. As a coach, Jeff has worked with all ages and skill levels, from community to quadrant, junior to professional.
Jeff will be scouting, recruiting, evaluating and providing player support with players eligible to play for the Bonnyville PONTIACS and take a lead role with prospects from Southern Alberta. Jeff will also act as an advisor to the Bonnyville PONTIACS in relation to player evaluation and recruitment as well as conduct research on potential prospects and player transactions.
jeff.richards@shaw.ca
403-617-0369
New England Scouting and Recruitment / Assistant Coach
Neil LANGRIDGE
Neil has been an extremely successful coach winning four straight North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League (NEAJBHL) championships as a Head Coach and General Manager. Neil is also involved with Hockey Alberta’s Program of Excellence with the Alberta Winter Games and the Alberta Cup. His hockey experience and knowledge makes Neil an extremely valuable member of the Bonnyville PONTIACS organization and he has had great success in bringing top players to the Bonnyville PONTIACS organization. Neil has a solid reputation for developing his players and always has time and energy to devote to mentoring and being an everyday learner.
Neil will be responsible for recruiting and scouting players from New England in the United States.
nlangridge@live.ca
780-826-0026
Alberta Regional Scouts – Scouting and Recruitment
Jason FOURNIER and Adam WATT
As a player Jason played in the WHL (Tri-Cities) and AJHL (Fort Saskatchewan) as well with Mount Royal University. He is engrained in the coaching community with the Fort Saskatchewan Minor Hockey Association has great knowledge of the game. Jason lives in Fort Saskatchewan with his wife and 3 children.
Adam has his MBA in Sports Management from the University of Alberta and has experience in contract research on current and forthcoming negotiations on standard NHL player contracts. Adam is the current Director/Vice-Chairman of the Edmonton Sport Council and also worked with the Edmonton Oilers and FC Edmonton and now currently works for Edmonton Northlands.
Jason and Adam provide recruiting and scouting players from Alberta.
Canadian Sports Schools Scouting
Tyrel SPITZER and Garrett MEGER
Tyrel is the Director of Hockey Operations and Head Coach of the Northern Alberta Extreme Midget Elite program and has an extensive hockey coaching and scouting background in the Edmonton area at the rep level.
Garrett works as an Infrastructure Designer for the MMM Group Limited in Edmonton and is also coaching with the Northern Alberta Extreme program. Garrett has also been a part of the Team Alberta program at the Alberta Cup.
Tyrel and Garrett help with recruiting and scouting players from the Canadian Sport School League and identify future players to play for the Bonnyville Pontiacs.
tspitzer@naxhockey.com / megerg@gmail.com
“This exceptional group of individuals brings an excellent mix of experience and hockey knowledge. They are highly motivated, quality individuals and very excited to be a part of the PONTIACS family and fulfill this most important role to our organization,” says Head Coach and General Manager Rick SWAN.
“As we continue to make strides to improve our organization, this restructuring allows for a stronger focus on the development for our players, while maximizing our scouting and player recruitment program. This a positive next step in the evolution of our franchise and to say that I am excited and thrilled would be a major understatement. There’s a lot of hard work that lies ahead for us, but now with Jeff Tetz and our group of great hockey minds for the 2017/18 season are all deeply committed to building a championship team in Bonnyville, and give us an opportunity to take the next step,” adds SWAN. “These guys all want to succeed, and these changes are a reflection of the overall commitment that the PONTIACS organization continues to make in identifying and recruiting talent to our community.”