Why join the Aeros?

The Cold Lake Aeros are now in their 6th season having started in 2018.

The Aeros were originally part of the Western States Hockey League but transitioned to the newly formed Canadian-American Junior Hockey League in January 2022.  

We believe that our program is a viable option for those players who are capable of playing at a highly competitive level. Our program is set up to work with players who wish to continue playing at a high level while seeking educational opportunities as well as other hockey options. We believe education,  community involvement, and hockey are fundamental to building a strong program.  Our program is designed to promote hockey skills and teamwork while contributing to the growth of players as young adults. 

Our Head Coach is Ryan Gruszka. Ryan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration as well as a Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis on Sports Leadership. He is an experienced hockey coach with a strong background in coaching in NCAA and Junior A hockey. Most recently, Ryan held the position of Head Coach of the ACHA Division Finlandia University in Hancock, Michigan as well as the Assistant Coach of the NCAA program. In his positions at Finlandia, Gruszka oversaw all recruitment activities, traveling to various showcases, video analysis, and breakdowns as well as planning all on-ice activities. Ryan has also held the position of the U18 Head Coach in New Zealand with the Dunedin Thunder Youth Hockey Association. He also holds his Level 2 USA Hockey Coaching Certification. A two-time ACHA Hockey All-American and a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame from East Texas Baptiste University in Marshall, Texas, Gruszka has also played at the Junior hockey level in Ontario, Canada and the United States.

Our Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach is Peter Axmann has been the team’s Assistant Coach and Assistant General Manager since the teams' inception. Having played as a goaltender in his minor hockey career and beyond, Peter assists with the coaching of goalies and defence, player recruitment, and managing of the team.

Our team offers an exclusive dressing room, highly qualified staff, and countless volunteers. We have a fantastic billet  program and opportunities to continue your education with a local college. 

The Aeros have won the league Championship in our inaugural season and have always been a top seeded team. 

Some of our Alumni:

We also have current commitments on our CAJHL website

Please feel free to visit our social media sites Facebook page and Instagram 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out Axel Axmann, President/General Manager at aaxmann@aeroshockey.ca or  780-723-0197.