From Estevan Minor Hockey to the professional ranks, Cole Fonstad’s exciting journey towards playing in the National Hockey League (NHL) has taken another huge step forward.
The 2000-born forward from Estevan has signed an AHL contract with the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL), the minor league affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. Fonstad will start the 2021-22 season in Cleveland after also playing two games for the Monsters at the end of the 2020-21 season after his junior hockey career came to a close. Fonstad was originally chosen by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, but did not sign a contract with the team and was a free agent.
Fonstad played the majority of his junior hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL), split between the Prince Albert Raiders and the Everett Silvertips. With Prince Albert, Fonstad and fellow Estevan-born player Brayden Pachal won the WHL championship in 2019. Fonstad was then traded near the start of the 2019-20 season to Everett where his finished his career as a Co-Captain with the Silvertips. Fonstad finished his WHL career with 281 points in 293 games.
Fonstad also made appearances with his hometown Estevan Bruins, scoring a goal in his lone game as a 15-year-old during the 2015-16 season. Fonstad also suited up for one game during the Western Canada Cup that season, with Estevan hosting the event. Then, with the 2020-21 season delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fonstad started his final season with the Bruins appearing in six games and leading the team with 10 points (5G, 5A) before finishing the year in Everett.