Bonnyville Pontiacs ready for new season as AJHL restructures divisions

The Bonnyville Pontiacs will be gearing up for the 2024-2025 season in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) North Division as the league undergoes significant restructuring. The AJHL has announced it will operate with two divisions of six teams each, a change from last season’s single-division format.  

Joining the Pontiacs in the North Division are the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, Grande Prairie Strom, Lloydminster Bobcats, Whitecourt Wolverines, and the newly established Devon Xtreme. The South Division will feature the Calgary Canucks, Camrose Kodiaks, Canmore Eagles, Drayton Valley Thunder, Drumheller Dragons, and Olds Grizzlys.  

The shift to a two-division format comes after the departure of five AJHL teams—Brooks Bandits, Blackfalds Bulldogs, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders, and Spruce Grove Saints—who left to join the British Columbia Hockey League. Last season, the AJHL operated with a 16-team schedule, and the top 12 teams advanced to the playoffs.  

The AJHL’s restructuring also introduces an expansion team, the Devon Xtreme, awarded to the Northern Alberta Xtreme Athletics Group and the Devon community. The Xtreme will make their debut in the upcoming season, adding fresh competition to the North Division.  

For the Bonnyville Pontiacs, these changes represent both challenges and opportunities. Competing in the revamped North Division, the team will face familiar rivals as well as new entrants, promising an exciting season ahead. The Pontiacs, along with their fans, are eagerly anticipating the start of the season and the chance to establish themselves as frontrunners in the newly configured league.  

The AJHL ‘s decision to realign its divisions and introduce new teams marks a pivotal moment in history. The move aims to enhance competitiveness and regional engagement.