Bonnyville Pontiacs training camp begins

Hockey season is knocking on the door.

The Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs main training camp begins today, as this year’s roster gets finalized.

With camp activities starting Thursday, the annual intersquad Milton Romanchuk Cup game is happening on Sunday night.

It’s a new regime in control with the front office and coaching staff.

With longtime coach and general manager Rick Swan no longer in the fold, it’s shared general managing duties between Neil Langridge and Chad Nelson. Brad Flynn takes over as head coach and Connor Cadaret is his assistant coach.

Even the training staff sees a new face with physical therapist Taylor Cochrane taking the role from the retiring Kim Sydora and the outgoing Danielle Larsen.

Preseason games begin on Thursday, September 1 with the first of three home exhibition games against Battlefords. The Yaks host the Lloyd Bobcats on Tuesday, September 6 and then the La Ronge Ice Wolves on Thursday, September 8.

The regular season kicks off September 16 on the road in Grande Prairie for a pair of contests against the Storm.

Circle the date Friday, September 23 — that’s the Yaks home opener when they will raise the roof against the Sherwood Park Crusaders.

New faces makeup team

There have been significant departures from last year’s 36 win club, like 20-year-olds Kash Rasmussen, Austin Saint, and Nick Traggio, and 19-year-olds that left a season early to go to the NCAA, such as AJ Macaulay, Sebastian Tamburro, and Alex Power.

But the recruitment over the off-season has been extensive.

The Yaks will have likes of Lakeland locals Nicholas Beaudoin, Dylan Hebert, and Brent Hoshowski waiting in the wings, to join a group of returning players like Matteo Giampa, Trey Funk, and Chayce Schmidt.

New faces like Ethan Look, Noah Leithman, Mitchell Spranklin, Brayden Vandenbilche, and Ryan Manzella look to figure into the lineup, as well.