Cold Lake was the host for the kickoff of the new Western Provinces Hockey Association last Thursday. A branching out of the junior-level Western States Hockey League from south of the border, the new league will comprise of six to eight teams from Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. The announcement came with Cold Lake being favored as a spot for a franchise.
Mayor Craig Copeland was on hand for the announcement. He says the league in the states has some ties to the province.
“It’ll be affiliated with the WSHL. Ron White is the commissioner of that league,and he’s come up here. A lot of Alberta kids play down in that league. It’s great.”
When asked about where other clubs will be located in the new league, the mayor says it’s all being planned out slowly.
“They’re being pretty careful on where. (The league) is looking at places like Morinville, Edson, Hinton, Meadow Lake in Saskatchewan and some communities in northern B.C. They’re looking at communities that don’t have junior a hockey.”
The goal for the new league to drop the puck is fall 2018, Copeland explains that the hope for the league is six teams to start, but they will play with 5 if need be.