Bonnyville Pontiacs forward Gavin Harrison was a rookie in name only as the Cold Lake talent aced virtually every test in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) this season.
Read more: Pair of Lloydminster Bobcats earn AJHL honours
After scoring 28 goals and 59 points in 52 games with the junior A Pontiacs, Harrison was selected as the rookie of the year in the 12-team AJHL.
Playing within 40 minutes of his hometown, Harrison flourished as a 16-year-old. He just turned 17 in March as the regular season concluded.
On a couple of occasions during the 2025-26 season, Harrison was also called up to the major junior Swift Current Broncos.
Harrison recorded two assists in five games with the Broncos, the Western Hockey League team that drafted him in the seventh round in 2024 with the 150th overall pick.
The former Lakeland Panther spent the previous three years with the Northern Alberta Xtreme prep program.
Harrison earned the AJHL’s top-rookie nod over three other finalists — defenceman Sullivan Humeniuk of the Drumheller Dragons and forwards Tristan Slywka of the Whitecourt Wolverines and Jordin St. Louis of the Olds Grizzlys.
Whitecourt captain Jalen Bianchet, the league scoring champion, was recognized as the AJHL’s most valuable player and top forward.
The 20-year-old native of Pickering, Ont., posted 46 goals and 87 points in 53 games with the pennant-winning Wolverines.
Winners and finalists for each award:
MVP
Winner: Jalen Bianchet, F, Whitecourt. Other finalists: Taynton Lavender, D, Drayton Valley; Maxwell Pendy, F, Bonnyville; Alexander Scheiwiller, G, Canmore.
Top forward
Winner: Jalen Bianchet, Whitecourt. Other finalists: Cohen Daoust, Canmore; Harper LoLacher, Calgary; Maxwell Pendy, Bonnyville.
Rookie of the year
Winner: Gavin Harrison, F, Bonnyville. Other finalists: Sullivan Humeniuk, D, Drumheller; Tristan Slywka, F, Whitecourt; Jordin
St. Louis, F, Olds.
Outstanding defenceman
Winner: Quentin Bourne, Whitecourt. Other finalists: Jaxan Hopko, Lloydminster; Taynton Lavender, Drayton Valley; Tristan Payne, Drumheller.
Top goaltender
Winner: Alexander Scheiwiller, Canmore. Other finalists: Sean Cootes, Drumheller; Brendan Gee, Fort McMurray; Elliott Pratt, Whitecourt.
Most dedicated player
Winner: Zachary Wilson, F, Grande Prairie. Other finalists: Ryan Arnold, F, Fort McMurray; Junshi Hideshima, F, Camrose; Aidan Tkachuk, F, Canmore.
Coach of the year
Winner: Shawn Martin, Whitecourt. Other finalists: Kevin Hasselberg, Drumheller; Andrew Milne, Canmore; Chris Schmidt, Grande Prairie.
Read more: April 16, 2026 Edition
