Jr. A Aeros launch Hockey Academy for youth hockey players

The Cold Lake Jr. A Aeros is expanding its hockey program to include a youth hockey academy. The organization announced that it has taken over the Northwest Broncos program, a youth hockey organization that plays in the independent Premier Hockey League.

With the takeover, the Aeros have changed the name from Broncos to Aeros Hockey Academy, offering hockey teams from U7 to U18. This will allow for a great transition into the Canadian American Junior Hockey League (CAJHL), the league that the Jr. A Aeros are a part of, explained the President of the Aeros organization, Axel Axmann.

The focus will be heavily skills-based, said Axmann, “we bring in lots of experts and focus more on training and skills development, as opposed to lots of games.” Games are still part of the league, but not as heavy as you may see in minor hockey under Hockey Alberta.

Taking the lead on the academy will be Meagan Sealy. Sealy has a degree in Kinesiology and Sports Management; she was a collegiate level goaltender with two ACHA Division 2 Championships.

“We both agreed that we need to focus more on skills development. I think kids in the hockey (Canada) program, cross-country, are falling behind our friends from Europe and the United States.” Axmann confirmed that the academy will have goaltending & skating coaches to help train the players, “they understand that we are focusing on [player] development.”

Hockey after U18

Axmann answered a common question parents and players have regarding independent leagues, will players be able to easily enter collegiate or junior level programs?

“For them to move into the college level program, which is the reason we started the junior A Aeros, it’s not an issue at all,” he confirmed there are many players from the Aeros program who have moved onto college level teams.

As for Hockey Alberta/Canada, there are still some barriers to re-entry, he explained, “they have to reapply to be reinstated.”

U13 AA Female Team

The Aeros have put out feelers in the community to see what interest there would be in a U13 AA Female team. Axmann said that interest is there, “we are really close to forming a team.”

This team would also play in the independent Premier Hockey League.

 

How to get involved

You can learn more about the Cold Lake Aeros program online at https://www.aeroshockey.ca/

The academy is hosting a series of tryouts June 10-11 in Cold Lake. See the image for dates/times.