Shawville scores big with senior hockey’s comeback
Tashi Farmilo
Published in the Pontiac Journal on Aug 27, 2025.
SHAWVILLE – The Pontiac Senior Comets have been sold and rebranded as the Shawville Pontiacs by their new owner, former coach and player Darcy Findlay. The move brings
senior hockey back to Shawville this fall under one of the region’s most storied names, relocating the Northern Premier Hockey League franchise from Fort-Coulonge to the Shawville arena.
The change marks both the end of one chapter and the start of another. The Comets’ former owners — Danick Boisvert, Stéphane Béland, Sébastien Bonnerot, Claude Boisvert, Paul Boisvert and Pierre Bourque — are being recognized for keeping senior hockey alive in the region and thanked for their years of dedication. Their decision to pass the torch ensures the team’s future, now with a new identity and home base.
For Findlay, reviving the Pontiacs carries personal meaning. The black, white and yellow sweaters of the old senior Pontiacs were fixtures on Friday nights at the Shawville arena, with championships in the 1960s, 1990s and mid-2000s cementing their reputation as a powerhouse. His grandfather, Bob “Fish” Findlay, played for the Pontiacs in the ’60s and later helped run the junior program in the ’80s and ’90s. “It was always a part of my life growing up here in Shawville — going to the rink on a Friday night to watch the Pontiacs play,” he said.
Last year’s four senior hockey games in Shawville showed how strongly the town embraces the sport. “Those games made it clear how much this community loves seeing that high level of hockey here at home,” Findlay said. “Now we get to make it a regular thing.”
The Shawville Pontiacs inherit a 40-man roster from the Comets and are preparing for tryouts to welcome new talent. The season is expected to open in late September, with a
full schedule to be released soon. Pre-season skates will begin earlier that month at nearby rinks, with the Shawville arena’s ice going in after the Labour Day fair. “It’s going to be a busy few weeks, but it’s exciting to see it all coming together,” Findlay said.
In the coming weeks, the team will launch ticket sales, announce sponsorship opportunities and share details on community events. Findlay’s goal is to make every home game an occasion. “We’ve got a great group of people working to make sure fans walk out of the rink already looking forward to the next game,” he said.
For updates, visit shawvillepontiacs.hockeyshift.com.
