Bonnyville Sr. Pontiacs move to Sask-Alta Hockey League

The 2018 Provincial championship. 

The Bonnyville Sr. Pontiacs are moving to a new league – more regional, more local players, and less travel. 

After being a member of the North Central Hockey League since 2015, the Sr. Pontiacs have been unanimously accepted in the Sask-Alta Hockey League for the upcoming season. 

“Eventually, we would’ve had to make a move,” said head coach Corey Wandler. 

Last season, the Sr. Pontiacs finished with a record of 6-10, but were swept by the Westaskiwin Longhorns in the first round of playoffs. 

That coincided with having a roster with just 14 players for Game 1 and 2, an issue that’s plagued the team for the last few years. 

Dealing with work and commitments that make composing a consistent roster difficult, is a hard way to slug against the best in the NCHL. 

Innisfail and Stony Plain both recently dropped from AAA to join the NCHL, and teams like Lacombe and Wetaskiwin consistently ice top teams. 

When the Sr. Pontiacs have their team, they can hang with the best, evidenced by their 5-4 OT win in the regular season over Innisfail. 

But that doesn’t happen consistently. 

Budgets

The cost savings on bussing and hotels are also significant. 

The longest trip in the Sask-Alta for Bonnyville would be Lashburn or Meadow Lake, still shorter than the shortest trip in the NCHL. 

Teams on the AB side of the border are a stone’s throw away: Elk Point, Kitscoty, Vermilion, and Marwayne. 

Fundraising requirements don’t need to be as high to operate. 

“Our Board of Directors has had many post-season discussions regarding the sustainability of our team and that has led to a decision to explore alternatives, including the Sask-Alta League,” said President Dennis Germain in correspondence to the NCHL. 

“The Sask-Alta has recently approved our application for membership for the 2025-2026 season and the Board decided that was the best way forward to insure the viability of our organization.” 

A stipulation though for joining the Sask-Alta will be to gather a team that is local, no recruiting from outside the Bonnyville region. 

While led offensively by Denis Cadrin and Brayden Labant last season, the youth injection into the Sr. Pontiacs over recent seasons has given the team new energy. 

Former Junior B players like Marc Ouellette, Scott Thackeray, Colton Buchta, Devon McCormack, and Dyson Roy, have become mainstays. 

“It’s going to be good for us to have new young, local players,” said Wandler. 

The highlight of the Sr. Pontiacs tenure in the NCHL was hosting and winning Sr. AA Provincials in 2018. 

The Paradise Hill Hawks were champs last season in the Sask-Alta.