COLD LAKE - Cold Lake was buzzing with excitement as it welcomed teams from across Alberta for the U13D Hockey Provincials, which were held at the Cold Lake Energy Centre Imperial Arena from March 20 to 23.
The event not only showcased young hockey talent but also brought economic benefits and community spirit to the city.
“We were extremely proud to host provincials. We got to promote our team’s skill and show off the arena and city to everyone,” said Melissa Demmons, co-host of the U13 provincials.
The opportunity to host the event came through a competitive bidding process.
With seven teams travelling to Cold Lake for the tournament, the city saw an influx of visitors from Slave Lake, Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, Edmonton, Sherwood Park, Vulcan, and Calgary.
“Hosting seven out-of-town teams brings in financial revenue for local businesses throughout the city on all levels,” Demmons noted, highlighting the economic boost for hotels, restaurants, and local retailers.
Beyond the financial impact, the event was an opportunity to showcase Cold Lake as a premier destination for sports tourism.
“It's important to showcase the pride we have in our city and bring in tourism for businesses. We have a state-of-the-art facility that can host these types of events, and we hope to continue hosting over years to come,” she said.
The response from visiting teams and spectators was overwhelmingly positive.
“We had great feedback and hope Cold Lake gets to host provincials again. The U13 team has worked hard to ensure this weekend is fun for all, and we thank all our out-of-town teams for joining us,” Demmons added.
As the competition wrapped up on Sunday. The Vulcan U13 Hawks emerged victorious with an exciting gold medal game, defeating the Sexsmith Vipers 8-3.
