Pontiacs defensemen Schanbacher & Coventry given league recognition

Image credit: Emma Jonker Photography. Jordan Schanbacher with the Thinkwerx Honorary Captain on Mar. 1, a program that sees a minor hockey player get selected to line up and skate out with the team during the pregame announcements. 

It’s AJHL award season and this week, two Bonnyville Pontiacs players were acknowledged by the team for their influence on community and classroom.

The RBC AJHL Community Ambassadors and Inter Pipeline AJHL All-Academic Team nominees were announced this week, which are programs that provide scholarship dollars to players selected. 

Each organization has one player nominated for each scholarship.

For the Pontiacs, Jordan Schanbacher is Bonnyville’s nominee of the Community Ambassador and Alex Coventry is part of the All-Academic Team.

The Yaks captain in Schanbacher took on the role and responsibility of wearing the “C” and showed his community spirit throughout the season. He had the daunting task of being just one of four returning players in the off-season, and bore the load of defensive responsibility on the ice, as well.

He hopes to receive a $1,000 scholarship from RBC through his volunteerism, while inspiring his teammates to contribute to the community in meaningful ways. Two of 16 nominees will be chosen. 

His most-often played defense partner was Alex Coventry.

The 18-year-old was picked for demonstrating qualities of an exceptional student-athlete working to further their athletic and academic achievements.

Inter Pipeline also picks one from the All-Academic Team for a $1,000 scholarship, based on his proven qualities in the areas of leadership, sportsmanship, dedication and citizenship.