COLD LAKE – The Aug. 12 regular City of Cold Lake council meeting included an emotional goodbye from Axel and Sandy Axmann of the Cold Lake Aeros Junior A Hockey Club.
The Axmanns announced on July 6, that the Aeros hockey club would cease operations after the Canadian-American Junior Hockey League (CAJHL) decided to “pause” the 2024-25 season. At the time, the league said the move would allow it to “refocus and collaborate” to build stronger ownership and community bases.
“While it is regrettable that we find ourselves on this path, we firmly believe that this temporary dormancy will provide us with the opportunity to emerge as a better and stronger league,” said Norm Shaw, Commissioner of the CAJHL, in a press release published in July of last year.
Since then, the league has confirmed it will return for the 2025–26 season under new management. The Southern Alberta Mustangs are among the confirmed returning teams, with other confirmed clubs including the Vegreville Vipers, Vulcan Rampage, and Tofield Thunder. Other teams are in discussion for rejoining or expansion, including potential entries in Calmar and Lamont, according to a CAJHL press release.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the Axmanns reflected on the five years they have spent in the community.
“I was trying to write this all out and I kept breaking down when we did this, but this journey of ours started five years ago, almost to the day . . . and we were introduced to this beautiful community,” said Axel, president of the hockey team.
Sandy, the general manager, told council, “It's been an amazing community and you guys have welcomed us with open arms . . . this feels more like home so thank you so much on behalf of my family . . . we will always be your ambassadors.”
Axel acknowledged the challenges of growing the club, saying, “I'm sorry that things didn't work out quite the way we had hoped . . . We just didn't see a point of moving forward and continuing on with the emotional and financial investment.”
“So when our son decided to move to Edmonton to be with his girlfriend, we kind of looked at ourselves and said you know what, we need to be closer to our grandkids, and that's what we're going to do,” he explained.
Mayor Craig Copeland thanked the couple on behalf of the city, saying, “We thank you for everything you guys done at Cold Lake . . . Your games were a pleasure to watch and we loved seeing everybody.”
The Aeros’ franchise began as the Edson Aeros in 2018, competing in the Western States Hockey League (WSHL). In July 2021, they officially relocated to Cold Lake and in 2022 the CAJHL was established.
