Bonnyville Pontiacs’ Gavin Harrison Named CJHL Top Rookie in Canada

Bonnyville Pontiacs forward Gavin Harrison has been named the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top Rookie for the 2025-26 season.

The CJHL announced the honour on Wednesday, recognizing the 16-year-old Cold Lake product as the top first-year player across all nine Junior A leagues in Canada.

Harrison earned the award over finalists from the OJHL, NOJHL, SIJHL and MJHL following a vote by the CJHL’s member leagues.

The standout rookie was already named the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Rookie of the Year earlier this season after capturing the Dick White Trophy.

In 52 games with the Pontiacs, Harrison scored 28 goals and added 31 assists for 59 points. His point total led all AJHL rookies by a commanding 16-point margin.

His 28 goals also topped all first-year players in the league.

Harrison was especially dangerous on special teams, finishing with 10 powerplay goals — tied for fifth overall in the AJHL — while also scoring three shorthanded goals.

The Swift Current Broncos prospect closed out the regular season on a 10-game point streak and recorded four separate point streaks of six games or longer during the year. He also posted 19 multi-point games.

Beyond the offensive numbers, Pontiac’s Head Coach Chad Mercier said Harrison’s complete game stood out most.

“We’re proud of Gavin and the season he had this year,” said Mercier. “He recorded the best statistical year for any 16-year-old in franchise history, but for me as a coach, the most impressive part of his season was his commitment to his 200-foot game and our ability to play him in any situation.”

Harrison also earned AJHL Player of the Game honours seven times during the season, was named Rookie of the Week four times and Rookie of the Month twice.

The award adds another major milestone to a historic rookie season for the Cold Lake forward and continues to put Bonnyville hockey on the national stage.