After collecting four straight North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League (NEAJBHL) championships, and with the team currently sitting atop the division this time around, the Cold Lake Ice shocked the region last week when they fired longtime head coach and general manager Neil Langridge.
News first broke of the surprising decision early Wednesday morning and with the organization so far refusing to comment on the situation, it was left to 27-year-old now former coach Langridge to break the news.
“It was a surprise, that's for sure,” Langridge said when speaking to the Nouvelle about the move on Oct. 29. “I'd be lying if I said I saw this coming, but that's life sometimes. Tough choices have to be made.
“I was a little taken aback and I still don't think it's set in. It feels like a little bit of a slap in the face, I guess four championships in a row doesn't mean much these days, but I'm going to leave this organization with my head held high – I'm proud of everything we've accomplished as a staff over the past few years and I'm immensely proud of all the guys,” Langridge said.
The move comes off the back of a change at boardroom level for the Ice, with former President Brett Peat stepping down late last month, citing behind the scenes politics as his reasoning for walking away in a post to fans on social media.
Peat said the organization was in a state of disarray off the ice and it would take more than “a few good people” to counteract what he describes as “cancers” on the board.
“The board cannot be fixed by one or two people with good intentions, as proven by some of the good people who started this year and either stepped down or were relieved of their positions without warning,” Peat said. “We did our best as a group to counter balance some of the cancers on the board, but it is hard to find the time and motivation to volunteer your time to a constant battle of common sense.”
He added, “Our board of good people signed Neil to a two-year contract (back in July) and we were very happy to do so.
“Walking away because of the politics did not seem like an issue knowing that if all else fails, the hockey itself will be safe with Neil guiding the ship. (That is no longer the case).”
Having helped transform the Ice from NEAJBHL also-rans to champions during a one-year spell as assistant coach and hugely successful three and a bit year stint as head coach, Langridge's departure has sent shockwaves throughout the community.
Fans and former players alike also took to social media to voice their concerns with the decision.
“The Blackhawks firing Quenneville is basically the equivalent of you firing Langridge,” wrote Devon Butler, mocking the board for what he sees as a “ridiculous” decision. Former Ice players Joel Bourget and Ashton Restau also gave their opinion on the move.
“It's really great to see this organization use Neil to recruit a team for Westerns and go and fire him. I know some of the people on the board and I laugh at them because they are gutless…” Bourget wrote.
“Good luck, your organization is looking like it's going back to the way it was. It's a sad day.”
“(Langridge) took the team from a joke to champs, winning four in a row and a bronze (at) provincials, then to toss him the year of westerns which they have worked hard for (is ridiculous),” said Restau.
With the Ice still yet to make an official announcement regarding Langridge's departure, questions remain over who will come in to replace a man that racked up over 100 wins in over just over three years as coach. Initial reports indicated that the team's previous head coach and GM Paul Desjardins would be drafted in, but that scenario now appears to be unlikely.
Langridge's two assistant coaches Corey Wandler and Brad Paice were behind the bench for recent victories over the Onion Lake Border Chiefs and Wainwright Bisons and it is expected they will continue their duties into the New Year.
Reflecting on his ten-year stint with the Ice as a player, assistant coach and then full-time head coach and GM, Langridge said he had “absolutely no regrets” and was looking forward to whatever the future brings.
“As a player and as a coach, I've spent a decade with the Cold Lake Ice and it's been nothing but an awesome ten years, but unfortunately all good things eventually have to come to an end,” Langridge said.
“I'm sorry things had to end the way they have, but I know the staff and myself have built a team capable of going to get a fifth straight championship and compete at (Westerns).
He added, “I have absolutely no regrets looking back.”
