With the Portage College Voyaguers now keeping their men’s hockey team in Lac La Biche instead of moving to Cold Lake, it raises the question of what will happen to the Lac La Biche Clippers, the Junior B expansion team set to join the NEAJBHL next season.
Those trying to get the Clippers off the ground are not too concerned.
“We feel that both teams can be successful in Lac La Biche,” says co-founder Ali Fyith. ” I think the community is a strong hockey community and is able to support both teams.”
Fyith adds that the two teams have even sat down to talk to one another.
“We had a brief meeting with the Portage College Voyageurs. It was really positive. There was a lot of ways we could benefit each other and piggyback off each other to make our seasons successful.”
The Clippers are currently raising funds to get their first season off the ground. More information about how that’s going will be made available after an August 8th meeting.
Fyith adds that this has been done before in the hamlet.
“We’re not inventing the wheel by bringing a hockey team. Portage has been there, the Clippers have been [in the NEAJBHL] from 1995 to 2000. Awareness of the team had been spreading quite rapidly, we just need to get the financial support and some volunteers for it, and I think we’ll be there.”