Rick Swan named Assistant Coach of WJAC Team West

Pontiacs’ coach to head Nova Scotia in December

Bonnyville Jr A Pontiacs Head Coach and General Manager Rick Swan has been named Assistant Coach of Team Canada West at this year’s World Jr A Challenge.

Hockey Canada released the following information: “Rick Swan will return to Team Canada West for the second year in a row after serving as video coach in 2016. He was also a guest coach at the Canada West selection camp in 2015. A long-time coach in the Hockey Alberta Program of excellence, Swan also served as head coach of Team West at the 2017 CJHL Prospects Game. Swan is entering his fifth season as head coach and general manager of the Bonnyville Pontiacs, winning AJHL coach of the Year honours in 2015-16, when he was a finalist for the top coach award in the CJHL.” The 2017 WJAC will be held in December in Truro, Nova Scotia.

The World Jr A Challenge pits the top Jr A division teams in the world against one another in an 11-day tournament. Teams representing USA, Russia, Czech Republic, Sweden and two Canada teams (East & West) vie for the cup. In 2016, the challenge was held in Bonnyville at the home of the Jr A Pontiacs, the RJ Lalonde Arena. Head Coach of the Pontiacs, Rick Swan helped on the coaching staff as video coach during the tournament.