The Lakeland College Rustlers Women’s Hockey Team has a new title sponsor in Lloydminster & District Co-operative as the community partner is sponsoring the team for $100,000 over four years.
“It’s just fantastic that the Lloydminster & District Co-op have signed on with us for four years to be our naming sponsor,” said Al Rogan, director of athletics at Lakeland College. “It just shows the support for our athletics program and women’s hockey specifically here.”
The announcement came at the tailgate barbecue hosted by Lloyd Co-op ahead of the home opener on Friday, Oct. 3 inside the Co-op Community Arena at the Cenovus Energy Hub.
“It just looks incredible. It’s such a beautiful place. Our girls are so excited in their new dressing room in a new facility on this incredible ice surface. You couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Rogan.
The team went on to win 2-1 over their opponents the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens – the team that they overcame to win the ACAC title last season. The team has some new faces for the 2025-26 year.
Values align
Coach Morgan Mann expressed his delight at the new sponsorship deal with Lloyd Co-op.
“We feel our values align. The community is very good to us and it’s important that we take every opportunity to give back to the community. So to be partnered with the Co-op is very exciting for us and we are excited that this is a four year commitment. It takes a bit of pressure off and is a big help to our team going down the road.”
Champs of Alberta
The 2024-25 ACAC championship banner was hoisted in the new barn ahead of the home opener.
CEO of Lloyd Co-op Peter Brown shared his excitement for the new partnership in sponsoring the Alberta champions.
“We committed for four years. $25,000 a year. We just want to be a partner of this community-based, collegiate team – Lakeland College. They align with our values so well. These athletes come from the Prairie provinces and they connect so well with our community and what the Co-op is. They carry the highest integrity levels. They bring passion on the ice and they are the ultimate professionals.”
Teamwork
“They just work together as a team – the reigning champions,” said Brown. “We see such great synergies with this partnership and it’s a beautiful thing seeing the Co-op M.O. (modus operandi) on their jerseys, “Fuelling Our Communities.” It’s awesome.”
Mayor Gerald Aalbers, who was grilling burgers earlier in the evening saluted the new partnership.
“I applaud the Lloydminster & District Co-op. It’s community focused and builds with the program we see here. It builds with the college and what they are trying to do, and gives the girls that opportunity,” said Aalbers.
Next home game
The Lakeland College Lloydminster & District Co-op Rustlers Women’s Hockey Team will take on Olds College Broncos in their new barn, the Cenovus Energy Hub, Co-op Community Arena for three games from Oct. 17-19.
The home game schedule can be viewed here. The full schedule is on the ACAC website.
