Pontiacs home opener date set as AJHL schedule expands to 62 games, no divisions

The date is known for when the Bonnyville Pontiacs will kick off the 2023-24 season. 

The AJHL season will begin for Bonnyville on Friday, September 15 when the Drumheller Dragons visit the RJ Lalonde. 

With head coach Mario Pouliot returning, as well as Nicolas Beaudoin, Max Seguin, Ludo Tardif, not to mention youngsters like Brent Hoshowski and Dylan Hebert, the Yaks are looking to build off a tremendous campaign which saw them get to the third round for just the second time in franchise history. 

However, the road to go to the post-season will be a little bit different. 

The North and South Divisions are no more, meaning there will be one table with all 16 teams in the standings jockeying for position. 

The schedule is expanded to 62 games from 60 and will be balanced, so each team will play each other four times. 

Then, two additional games against random opponents are slated for the AJHL Showcase in late September in Calgary.