The Bonnyville Sr. Pontiacs are about to start their second season in the North Central Senior Hockey League (NCHL). The Sr. Pontiacs first year in the league was a probationary period, which is required for every team joining the NCHL.
The Bonnyville Sr. Pontiacs are about to start their second season in the North Central Senior Hockey League (NCHL).
The Sr. Pontiacs first year in the league was a probationary period, which is required for every team joining the NCHL.
"Ourselves, Daysland, and Big Valley were accepted as permanent full members of the league, so we have that security now knowing that we have a league," said vice-president Dennis Germaine, who spoke about the upcoming season for the Sr. Pontiacs.
After some teams in the NCHL were relocated, and others have ceased operation this season, the league consists of 10 teams.
"We're playing an 18-game schedule; two-games against each opponent. It will be more of a balanced schedule. Last year our first year in the league we had six home games and 10 away, this year it's nine and nine."
This will give fans of the team the opportunity to come out and support the Sr. Pontiacs with three more games being played at home.
The team will also be making a trip north to Whitehorse, Yukon to play two exhibitions games against the Sr. Huskies.
"Whitehorse has been interested in the NCHL because of the level of play and they're looking for competition. Of course they have no close rivalries, they have no teams around there and they're going to be hosting the BC provincial championships for senior hockey so for many years they've been inviting teams to come up and play them for a couple games so they have competition."
This is not the first year that the Pontiacs have gone up north to play games against this team Germaine added.
The team will also have a new coach this season. Chad Milnthorp will be the new man behind the bench, as former coach Neil Langridge joined the Jr. A Pontiacs.
"This season the key word is 'change'. We have lost through transfers, retirements, injuries; we've lost half of our team from last year. We've had a lot of work to do to recruit and backfill those positions, so over the summer that's been taking place and were now at about the 20 mark."
The team will open their season on the road on Oct. 1 in Devon against the Barons, but will have their home opener the next day at 3 p.m. against the Slave Lake Winterhawks.
