The Cold Lake Areos has been granted $10,000 to help pay for officials for the hockey season by the City of Cold Lake.
The Aeros are part of the Canadian American Junior Hockey League, which is a separate league not part of Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada and find it hard to get people to official games.
Hockey Alberta officials who ref games that are “non-sanctioned” like games from the Canadian American Junior Hockey League lose access to the Hockey Canada insurance program, are limited on the types of Hockey Alberta/Canada tournaments they can officiate, and can not participate in Hockey Alberta’s Officiating Development Programs.
The owner of the Cold Lake Areos Axel Axmann initially brought up the ask for assistance during the May 23 council meeting but the choice to grant the Aeros funding was made during the June 27th meeting. Cold Lake’s Mayor says this is a helping hand.
“We support all of the major sports in our community in a big way. I have no problem supporting the ten grand as a grant or whatever you want to call it.”
The vote was not unanimous but ultimately the motion was passed 4-3 to grant the Aeros the money.