City policy change sparks concerns about ice time availability at Energy Centre

City council agreed to change the priority of how ice time will be booked at the Energy Centre last week, putting a higher priority to “sport tournaments” because of their economic spinoff to local business, drawing visitors from out of town.  

This change in policy was met with several questions from Gord Coggan, female director of Cold Lake Minor Hockey, at Tuesday’s council meeting, with fears they could be left with no available ice some weekends due to booking schedules. 

The Lakeland Lightning program, which is different from CLMH, has been in conflict on scheduling. Along with other programs that require ice, the limitations of how much ice there is, and who gets to use it, came to a head during the council meeting. 

“It’s always been difficult to know when your administration is working in recreation [what to do] when somebody comes in and says, ‘I want to rent the two facilities at the Energy Centre. I’m bringing in 12 or 16 teams from out of town into your community.’ What gets bumped?” said Mayor Craig Copeland on The Morning After. 

“Special events, tournaments, are really important, and we look at it from the economic lens. There’s certainly other hockey rinks or sporting facilities in Cold Lake that users that get displaced can move to.” 

The City is looking at sports tourism, and the strength of their facilities at the Energy Centre, as a draw to the area. 

“We know for a fact that during a downturn here, we’ve had one hotel owner tell us that it really kept the lights on for their hotel. By having all these tournaments, concerts, the big Air Show, Mudfest, all these kinds of big events, really helped them.” 

This conversation bubbled during council because of the Lakeland Lightning’s “showcase” style of tournament, which Coggan believes in the policy wording, would take precedence over CLMH games or tournaments. 

With these tournaments known in greater advance than the NEAHL can provide, Coggan is worried minor hockey could be shut out. 

“Rewriting that [policy] the way it is, we feel as an association, will hurt our association,” Coggan said. 

“All we’re asking is to separate non-profit and profit.” 

Hockey world changing

Part of the issue stems deeper and speaks to a growing chasm in the hockey world. 

Cold Lake Minor Hockey is the traditional stream, under the guise of Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada, and produces teams from house league, girls, and is part of tiering systems. They are listed as a non-profit. 

The Lakeland Lightning are part of what some call an “unsanctioned” league outside of the Hockey Canada umbrella, and are listed as a for-profit organization. 

During the council meeting, CAO Kevin Nagoya spoke to this, saying the groups are in conflict, but that the business community angle is an important one.

These businesses are often the groups asked for sponsorships to help run hockey organizations or tournaments, he said. 

City council notes outline that the Lightning are looking to book one showcase a month for the upcoming season, which would move Minor Hockey to the North Arena, JJ Parr (which has very limited ice time), or out of town, Coggan believes.

Currently, the Lightning practice out of the North Arena, which had significant investment from the City to renovate and keep alive.

“The intent of the policy is just that types of events, whether it’s for profit or not-for-profit, our priority is within the community to make sure that we can book them in to help,” said Nagoya during the meeting. 

“It doesn’t mean that they’re going to get all of what they’re asking, but it does provide a higher level of priority when we’re looking at the general use of the facilities.” 

During discussion on the motion, councillor Chris Vining said he understands where Minor Hockey is coming from, but there needs to be a way to accommodate everyone, so the facilities are used to their maximum potential. 

“One organization cannot be proprietary over the ice,” Vining said. 

Council did pass the motion to change the priority of bookings.

“User groups are going to have to work with the staff at the Energy Center and come up with a hockey schedule. If we have to get involved, so be it. But they have to work together,” said Copeland.  

Council