The Bonnyville PONTIACS want to give a heartfelt thank-you to all our amazing fans, our incredibly generous sponsors, our billet families, our dedicated Board, our 'play-by-play' man Robb HUNTER, our players and their families from the bottom our heart for your outstanding support during the 2015/16 season.
The season marked many franchise records:
– Most regular season wins (40)
– Most points in a regular season (89)
– Least number of losses in a regular season (11)
– Highest winning percentage (.745)
– Third most team goals (245)
– Third least goals against (163)
– Nominated for four league AJHL awards (MVP, Most Outstanding Defenseman, Most Dedicated Player and Coach of the Year)
– Three league AJHL award winners (MVP – Bobby McMANN / Most Outstanding Defenseman – Brinson PASICHNUK / Coach of the Year – Rick SWAN)
– 5 weeks in a row CJHL Top Honorable Mention
– 27 players since 2014 moving on to the College level to continue their hockey and academic careers
Over 1400 hours of Community Service initiatives and volunteering (3000 hours in the past two years): Centennial School – teaching and mentoring grades 3 to 7 Lakeland students once a week / Dr. BROSSEAU School – Playground set-up / Town of Bonnyville Halloween Safety Initiative / Bonnyville Centralized High School’s “Santa’s Elves” Toy Drive / Lakeland Food Bank and Orion Esso Food Drive / DUCLOS School Literary Program / Moose Lake Senior’s and Resident’s ‘boat launch removal’ / Weekly Team Leadership Training / Bonnyville Minor Hockey Association player mentorship / Cold Lake Minor Hockey Association player mentorship / Mannville Minor Hockey Association player mentorship / Mallaig Minor Hockey Association player mentorship / Glendon Minor Hockey Association player mentorship / Annual Santa Christmas Skate / Domestic Violence Safe Walk / Lakeland School District “Anti-Bullying and Respect” lectures/presentations / Kids Sport Fun Skates / Bonnyville Community Learning Council Literacy Awareness / Bonnyville Minor Hockey Association Goaltender Skills Clinic / Hockey Ministries International – Chapel twice a month / Bonnyville Health Foundation Annual Gala Fundraiser / Bonnyville Boys and Girls Club / Town of Bonnyville July Parade / Starz Gala Fundraiser / 4 Wing Cold Lake Military Tributes / Hockey Alberta Pee Girls Provincials / RCMP-MADD/SADD Celebrity Check-Stop Fundraiser / Dove Center Christmas Festival / Senior’s Snow Shoveling and much more.
What most people will remember this season is the hard work and commitment from our players on the ice but is important to recognize that the Bonnyville PONTIACS are way more than what people experienced watching our games.
Being a PONTIAC is way beyond the uniform – it is about 'who wears the uniform' and it is about representing yourself everyday as a great citizen in our great community. Not everyone can be a Bonnyville PONTIAC but those that want to become more than just a better hockey player, there is no greater environment to do so.
The regular season was one 'heck of a ride' and our fine young men gave us much to be proud of. Aside from what happened on the ice, in the end new friends were made, life lesson skills were obtained and the players all made a tremendously positive impact on our community both on and off the ice with their commitment to 'giving back.'
We have much to look forward to in 2016/17!
Words are not enough – thank you – thank you – thank you to everyone who made this year such a success!