Fontaine jersey retirement a chance to honour local hockey star

The hockey career of the best to ever come out of Bonnyville will be honoured on Saturday night.

Justin Fontaine, a NHLer for three seasons, a NCAA Frozen Four champion, and multi-year Bonnyville Pontiac, will see his number 14 raised to the rafters in the RJ Lalonde, a rink he grew up in.

Pontiacs associate general manager Neil Langridge said the timing of the event made sense, although it’s brewing for a long time.

“It’s been a little bit of a long time coming for our organization to be able to honour Justin and his hockey career and everything he did for the Pontiacs organization and the community of Bonnyville,” Langridge told Lakeland Connect.

“He retired during the COVID times, so we didn’t really want to try and force an event when we couldn’t really put on a show and have a crowd and everybody in the building.” 

Fontaine began as all do, playing in the Bonnyville Minor Hockey system, before progressing to play parts of three seasons for the Northeast Panthers U18AAA, but also suiting up with the Jr. A Pontiacs in 2004-05 a dozen times.

He went full-time in 2005-06, one of the most talented teams in Yaks history, and made an instant impact. The local star scored 26 goals and 55 assists in 81 games, and then posted 30 goals and 41 assists the following season.

His prowess also gave him an opportunity to represent his country as part of Team Canada West.

Committed to a scholarship with Minnesota-Duluth, in his senior year the Bulldogs won their first Frozen Four, the top prize in NCAA hockey.

Signed to the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League, he played two seasons there before cracking the Minnesota Wild’s roster. His journey also took him to play in the KHL for two seasons, and the DEL in Germany for one season.

 

 

“You go around during our recruiting currently and the Pontiacs are a part of the hockey world. Some of those guys, like the Mark Letestus, the Jon Kalinskis, the Justin Fontaines and some of our young guys that are making their way into the hockey world, they are the ones that help you put your organization on the hockey map,” said Langridge. 

“And so Justin was a huge part of that. A local boy, he played three full seasons in the NHL, and had a very successful hockey career. He’s back now in our community, helping the same organization that gave him those opportunities to reach his goals and achieve his goals and dreams. It’s great to be able to recognize him and his family and their contributions. And we’re just super again, super excited.” 

The ceremony is Saturday night before the Pontiacs take on the Spruce Grove Saints.

Fans are going to want to be in the building early, because a good crowd is anticipated and the ceremony is set for 6:45pm sharp.

There will be an intro speech, a highlight video compilation, and a speech from Fontaine himself.

He will join Jon Kalinski, Mark Letestu, Matt Cook, and Mike Germann, who have also had their jerseys retired by the club.

Tickets are available for the game at tickets.bonnyvillepontiacs.ca