The city of Cold Lake has been informed that the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) will not allow the city of Cold Lake to have a Junior A hockey team for the next season. This decision comes as a disappointment to local investors who were working to bring a team to the community.
Cold Lake council believed they had a chance to join the league, since the AJHL has lost several teams to competing leagues during the 2023-2024 season. However, the Bonnyville Pontiacs, reportedly opposed the idea, citing their financial reliance on support from Cold Lake businesses.
Mayor Craig Copeland expressed concern over the decision, saying it could harm relations between the two communities. “I’m very concerned about the message that this is sending to the Cold Lake business community,” Copeland said. “The city of Cold Lake’s council has been very supportive of recreational and cultural opportunities in our neighboring urban community, but this decision threatens to destroy a lot of that goodwill.”
Mayor Copeland also highlighted the financial and administrative support Cold Lake has provided to Bonnyville. “We have sent a significant amount of money to Bonnyville to assist with recreation, culture, and the arts, and our administration regularly assists with the town’s requests to share information for the development of their programs, policies, and bylaws,” he stated. “It would seem that, out of fear of competition, the Pontiacs are driving a wedge between our communities.”
He also criticized the Pontiacs for not engaging with Cold Lake, noting that they haven’t held games, clinics, or outreach events in the city. “Typically, Junior A teams across the country give back to the communities that support them,” he said. “That’s not the case here. Instead of a great regional rivalry that could be good for both communities and the league, we are left with a team for Bonnyville only.”
Despite the setback, Cold Lake remains committed to supporting its local sports teams and providing top-notch facilities for athletes and visitors. “We know that athletes want to be here because of the facilities we’ve created, and because of our community’s dedication to hosting first-class events,” Copeland said. “Our arenas are highly sought after for tournaments, and our population is nearly three times the town’s. If their team is saying that they are relying on our community to exist, that’s not a great look and I’m surprised they would even mention it.”
The city hopes to continue improving recreational opportunities and creating a strong sports culture in the Lakeland region.
