WJAC showed the World the Best of Bonnyville

It felt very fleeting on Saturday evening as the lights of the Centennial Centre’s RJ Lalonde Arena went off and officially closed the World Jr A Challenge (WJAC). Volunteers hit their heads heavy on their beds that night, full hearts and satisfied in knowing the best of the world was on display in Bonnyville – the best damn volunteers, fans, sponsors… and hockey (of course)!

Robb Hunter, co-chair of the WJAC Committee had a dream 18 months ago to bring the world to the small rural hockey driven community of Bonnyville. The dream was shared with another passionate community member, Richard Wurst, who saw the determination in Hunter’s eyes and knew that it would be success. The two began their journey by employing the help of the most enthusiastic members of the community they could think of and empowering them by forming a committee. The hunger grew and the passion spread as the bid package was prepared, endorsed by the Town and neigbours; the Municipal District of Bonnyville and eventually (after months of edge-of-your-seat waiting) the news came that Bonnyville was successful in securing the 2016 WJAC.

“It was 18 months of work to bid and then put together the hosting of the event,” explains Hunter. The announcement came at the lowest dip in the local economy; oil was low, job were lost, and the town was desperate for a boost. Some may have advised to walk away, you’ll never get enough sponsors, you’ll never get the volunteers, you’ll never pull this off. The naysayers were silenced at the first press conference announcing the event; where residents stood by waiting to sign up for any job, any way they could help.

A year of preparation went into the seven day event and just like a true Christmas movie, there was magic in the air December 10-17th. It could’ve been the holiday spirit hitting the town’s folk harder than a blindsided hit from Niklas Kronwall or it could’ve just been pride in displaying what the community was truly capable of; but the event was flawless.

“What a spectacular success the event was, as a whole. The hockey was fantastic, the community support was outstanding, the volunteers were tremendous and the host committee, everybody did their jobs and they did them the right way.” Hunter says he was overwhelmed by the efforts put in by all. “We had to put together upwards of 15- volunteers, everything from the two hockey teams that were scrapping the ice with the shovels to looking after the teams’ laundry.” That was something no one anticipated, laughs Hunter, “we had volunteers up at the middle of the night, washing undergear; which I can’t imagine is a glorious job. But, it was a job that needed to get done and people stepped up and they stepped up with smiles on their faces and got the job done.” From the enthusiastic host at the rink (Husband Chad BTWs) to the 50/50 sellers running high and low up the stands to the party at the Brick Hockey House; it was the very definition of a team effort that put Bonnyville in the memory banks for all the spectators, visitors, Hockey Canada and each of the young men representing their country on our ice. “It all contributed to the massively successful event.”

Neighbouring communities were huge in ensuring the success of the event, says Hunter, “we have to thank our municipal partners, Cold Lake and St Paul. Both of them stepped up and really helped out. Setting the bar really high, because they both hosted pre-competition gamed and they did such a great job doing it; we knew then that in Bonnyville we had to meet the expectations that they had set for us. We did that and we’re awfully happy.”

There wasn’t a moment of the last week that any resident of Bonnyville couldn’t hold their head up high when announcing their hometown (not that you should ever hang your head low when your hometown is concerned). The event drew in fans from all over the province and in some cases the world. “Eleven years of broadcasting Pontiacs’ games, you kinda get to see the faces. When I see fans, I typically recognize them, yet this week… and especially, during the gold medal game, I’m looking around the crowd and I don’t see a whole lot of faces that I recognize.” The 50/50 winner list alone displays the draw the event had, “we had 50/50 winners from Lac La Biche, St Paul, Lethbridge. There was a tremendous support from all across the Province.” The gold medal game sold out, with standing room only for the stair archway above the east side of the rink.

Be proud of yourself Bonnyville, you are the best of the world!