Following in what Daniel Fink did the other day (You can read the SJHL side to things in his interview here), I contacted Cold Lake mayor Craig Copeland to find out more about what the Investor Group, led by former Jr A players Derek Prue and Matt Brown.
Prue's Skyrider Developments introduced the idea to Copeland and the city in a public meeting a couple days ago, according to Robb Hunter, voice of the AJHL's Bonnyville Pontiacs. Mayor Copeland, when asked how long this was in the works, said that he "wasn't aware of this until, about, 2 weeks ago"
Copeland, when asked about saying the St. Albert Steel franchise moving there, said that was up to the AJHL, and that he has not been contacted by anyone associated with that situation. He also mentioned that Prue, although based out of Edmonton, has developments in Prince Albert, hence why he wanted a team in the SJHL.
According to Copeland, Prue felt that travel to such places as La Ronge, Estevan and Yorkton was not a concern. In fact, it was fully planned into the model presented to Cold Lake council.
Mayor Copeland re-iterated the City's surprise and excitement for a Jr A franchise, saying that the competitiveness in both the AJHL and SJHL were right up there.
Overall (just how Copeland sounded), the idea of Jr A, specifilically SJHL hockey would be embraced by the City with open arms.
At that travel time mentioned, here's some travel mileage: CL to B'ford: 306km, CL to Estevan: 900km, CL to LAR: 659 km, CL to Flin Flon: 825, CL to Yorkton: 770 km.
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As for the St. Albert situation, requests to President Cripps and to the Steel brass has not been answered yet. Stay tuned for more into.
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