Bonnyville Pontiacs
Encyclopedia
The Bonnyville Pontiacs are an ice hockey
team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League
. They play in Bonnyville, Alberta
, Canada
at the R. J. Lalonde Arena
, capacity 2700.
as the league's ninth active franchise in 1991-92, adopting the Pontiacs name and logo originally used by the Senior A team of the same name in the 1950s.
The Franchise was awarded, along with the 1991-92 All-star game on June 1, 1991, leaving just two months for the new organization to find staff and players before puck drop. Ultimately, the short timeframe seriously hampered the team on the ice, as it finished a distant last, missing the playoffs. The Pontiacs would remain in last for two more years before finally climbing out of the basement, however the franchise has never really managed to separate itself from the bottom half of the league or division standings. Only in the last few seasons have the Pontiacs become a consistent winning team.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League
Alberta Junior Hockey League
The Alberta Junior Hockey League is an Alberta-based Junior A hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League . It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. There are currently 16 teams in the league. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy...
. They play in Bonnyville, Alberta
Bonnyville, Alberta
Bonnyville, Alberta is a town situated in east-central Alberta between the City of Cold Lake and the Town of St. Paul. It is the seat of the Municipal District of Bonnyville No...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
at the R. J. Lalonde Arena
R. J. Lalonde Arena
The R. J. Lalonde Arena is a 1,800-seat multi-purpose arena in Bonnyville, Alberta. It is home to the Bonnyville Pontiacs ice hockey team. The stadium was opened on November 27, 1982.- External links :*...
, capacity 2700.
- Founded: 1991-92
- Division titles won: None
- Regular season titles won: None
- League Championships won: None
- Doyle CupDoyle CupThe Doyle Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won through a best-of-7 series, conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The series is played between the Fred Page Cup champions of the British Columbia Hockey League and the Enerflex Cup champions of the Alberta Junior Hockey League...
Titles: None - Royal Bank CupRoyal Bank CupThe Royal Bank Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament held to determine the Canadian Junior A champion. The winner of the tournament wins the Royal Bank Cup...
Titles: None
History
The Bonnyville Pontiacs entered the AJHLAlberta Junior Hockey League
The Alberta Junior Hockey League is an Alberta-based Junior A hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League . It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. There are currently 16 teams in the league. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy...
as the league's ninth active franchise in 1991-92, adopting the Pontiacs name and logo originally used by the Senior A team of the same name in the 1950s.
The Franchise was awarded, along with the 1991-92 All-star game on June 1, 1991, leaving just two months for the new organization to find staff and players before puck drop. Ultimately, the short timeframe seriously hampered the team on the ice, as it finished a distant last, missing the playoffs. The Pontiacs would remain in last for two more years before finally climbing out of the basement, however the franchise has never really managed to separate itself from the bottom half of the league or division standings. Only in the last few seasons have the Pontiacs become a consistent winning team.
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T/OTL = Ties/Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against| Season | GP | W | L | T/OTL | SOL | Points | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1991-92 | 60 | 8 | 51 | - | 1 | 17 | 186 | 399 | 9th Overall | Did not qualify |
| 1992-93 | 56 | 13 | 42 | - | 1 | 27 | 192 | 324 | 9th Overall | Did not qualify |
| 1993-94 | 56 | 15 | 37 | - | 4 | 34 | 209 | 368 | 9th Overall | Did not qualify |
| 1994-95 | 56 | 24 | 29 | - | 3 | 51 | 219 | 278 | 7th Overall | Lost in first round |
| 1995-96 | 60 | 27 | 30 | - | 3 | 57 | 243 | 257 | 7th Overall | Lost in first round |
| 1996-97 | 60 | 27 | 30 | - | 3 | 57 | 242 | 270 | 8th Overall | Lost in first round |
| 1997-98 | 60 | 20 | 36 | - | 4 | 44 | 204 | 266 | 11th Overall | Did not qualify |
| 1998-99 | 62 | 33 | 29 | - | 0 | 66 | 282 | 261 | 5th North | Lost in first round |
| 1999-00 | 64 | 34 | 26 | - | 4 | 72 | 251 | 230 | 5th North | Lost in second round |
| 2000-01 | 64 | 17 | 38 | 9 | - | 43 | 194 | 307 | 8th North | Did not qualify |
| 2001-02 | 64 | 20 | 43 | 1 | - | 41 | 176 | 284 | 8th North | Did not qualify |
| 2002-03 | 64 | 27 | 29 | 8 | - | 62 | 207 | 243 | 6th North | Lost in first round |
| 2003-04 | 60 | 27 | 25 | 8 | - | 62 | 189 | 172 | 6th North | Lost in first round |
| 2004-05 | 64 | 36 | 17 | 11 | - | 83 | 218 | 189 | 4th North | Lost in first round |
| 2005-06 | 60 | 38 | 19 | 3 | - | 79 | 240 | 185 | 5th North | Lost in second round |
| 2006-07 | 60 | 24 | 29 | 7 | - | 55 | 173 | 208 | 6th North | Lost in first round |
| 2007-08 | 62 | 34 | 21 | 7 | - | 75 | 211 | 166 | 4th North | Lost in second round |
| 2008-09 | 62 | 35 | 22 | 5 | - | 75 | 215 | 187 | 4th North | Lost in first round |
| 2009-10 | 60 | 27 | 29 | 4 | - | 58 | 175 | 190 | 5th North | Lost in second round |
| 2010-11 | 60 | 35 | 16 | 9 | ||||||
| 79 | 198 | 150 | 3rd North | Lost in second round |
Playoffs
- 1992 DNQ
- 1993 DNQ
- 1994 DNQ
- 1995 Lost Quarter-final
- Calgary CanucksCalgary CanucksThe Calgary Canucks are a junior ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Calgary, Alberta, Canada at the Max Bell Centre, capacity 3500....
defeated Bonnyville Pontiacs 4-games-to-1- 1996 Lost Quarter-final
- Olds GrizzlysOlds GrizzlysThe Olds Grizzlys are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Olds, Alberta, Canada at the Olds & District Sports Complex, capacity 2200.The Grizzlys enjoyed a dynasty in the mid 1990s that culminated in a Centennial Cup title as national champions, won on home ice, in...
defeated Bonnyville Pontiacs 4-games-to-1- 1997 Lost Quarter-final
- Calgary CanucksCalgary CanucksThe Calgary Canucks are a junior ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Calgary, Alberta, Canada at the Max Bell Centre, capacity 3500....
defeated Bonnyville Pontiacs 4-games-to-2- 1998 DNQ
- 1999 Lost Preliminary
- Grande Prairie StormGrande Prairie StormThe Grande Prairie Storm are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada at the Canada Games Arena, capacity 3228, also known as the Crystal Centre....
defeated Bonnyville Pontiacs 2-games-to-none- 2000 Lost Quarter-final
- Bonnyville Pontiacs defeated Grande Prairie StormGrande Prairie StormThe Grande Prairie Storm are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada at the Canada Games Arena, capacity 3228, also known as the Crystal Centre....
3-games-to-none - Fort McMurray Oil BaronsFort McMurray Oil BaronsThe Fort McMurray Oil Barons are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada at the Thickwood Heights Arena, capacity 2300....
defeated Bonnyville Pontiacs 4-games-to-1- 2001 DNQ
- 2002 DNQ
- 2003 Lost Preliminary
- Sherwood Park CrusadersSherwood Park CrusadersThe Sherwood Park Crusaders are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, at the Sherwood Park Arena, capacity 1800....
defeated Bonnyville Pontiacs 4-games-to-none- 2004 Lost Preliminary
- Fort McMurray Oil BaronsFort McMurray Oil BaronsThe Fort McMurray Oil Barons are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada at the Thickwood Heights Arena, capacity 2300....
defeated Bonnyville Pontiacs 3-games-to-2- 2005 Lost Preliminary
- Grande Prairie StormGrande Prairie StormThe Grande Prairie Storm are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada at the Canada Games Arena, capacity 3228, also known as the Crystal Centre....
defeated Bonnyville Pontiacs 3-games-to-1- 2006 Lost Quarter-final
- Bonnyville Pontiacs defeated Grande Prairie StormGrande Prairie StormThe Grande Prairie Storm are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada at the Canada Games Arena, capacity 3228, also known as the Crystal Centre....
3-games-to-1 - Fort McMurray Oil BaronsFort McMurray Oil BaronsThe Fort McMurray Oil Barons are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada at the Thickwood Heights Arena, capacity 2300....
defeated Bonnyville Pontiacs 4-games-to-none- 2007 Lost Preliminary
- Spruce Grove SaintsSpruce Grove SaintsThe Spruce Grove Saints are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada at the Grant Fuhr Arena, capacity 2,000....
defeated Bonnyville Pontiacs 3-games-to-2- 2008 Lost Quarter-final
- Bonnyville Pontiacs defeated Sherwood Park CrusadersSherwood Park CrusadersThe Sherwood Park Crusaders are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, at the Sherwood Park Arena, capacity 1800....
3-games-to-2 - Fort McMurray Oil BaronsFort McMurray Oil BaronsThe Fort McMurray Oil Barons are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada at the Thickwood Heights Arena, capacity 2300....
defeated Bonnyville Pontiacs 4-games-to-2- 2009 Lost Preliminary
- Fort McMurray Oil BaronsFort McMurray Oil BaronsThe Fort McMurray Oil Barons are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada at the Thickwood Heights Arena, capacity 2300....
defeated Bonnyville Pontiacs 3-games-to-1- 2010 Lost Quarter-final
- Bonnyville Pontiacs defeated Sherwood Park CrusadersSherwood Park CrusadersThe Sherwood Park Crusaders are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, at the Sherwood Park Arena, capacity 1800....
3-games-to-none - Spruce Grove SaintsSpruce Grove SaintsThe Spruce Grove Saints are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada at the Grant Fuhr Arena, capacity 2,000....
defeated Bonnyville Pontiacs 4-games-to-none- 2011 Lost Quarter-final
- Bonnyville Pontiacs defeated Sherwood Park CrusadersSherwood Park CrusadersThe Sherwood Park Crusaders are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, at the Sherwood Park Arena, capacity 1800....
3-games-to-none - Fort McMurray Oil BaronsFort McMurray Oil BaronsThe Fort McMurray Oil Barons are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada at the Thickwood Heights Arena, capacity 2300....
defeated Bonnyville Pontiacs 4-games-to-2
NHL alumni
The following former Pontiacs have gone on to play in the NHL:- Nolan PrattNolan PrattNolan Pratt is a former Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently an assistant coach for the Springfield Falcons.-Playing career:...
- Grant StevensonGrant StevensonGrant Thomas Stevenson is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward, currently playing for German club Augsburger Panther of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga...
- Harry YorkHarry YorkHarold York is a retired professional ice hockey centre who spent four seasons in the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
- Jon Kalinski
- Mark LetestuMark LetestuMark Letestu is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently with the Columbus Blue Jackets organization.Letestu played three season of junior hockey with the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, before playing one season at Western Michigan of the Central Collegiate...
- Matt ClimieMatt ClimieMatt Scott Climie is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks organization of the National Hockey League . He was signed by the Stars, being undrafted out of Bemidji State University....