Copperheads set to celebrate 20th anniversary season in 2026/2027

Posted on August 13, 2026 by Sunny South News

By Garrett Simmons
Sunny South News

It is going to be a historic season for the Coaldale Copperheads.

The 2026/2027 campaign will mark the 20th season for the club, a team which tracks its formation back to 2007.

At that time, the Lethbridge Southern Express junior hockey team was the club of record in the area. In August of that year, Kevin Wiebe contacted the Heritage Junior Hockey League, to inquire about a relocation of the franchise to Coaldale.

Following plenty of community canvassing, it was clear immediately the community and the HJHL would support a new junior hockey squad.  It became a race to the finish, as the new board of directors had only two months to finalize the process.

Securing sponsors, ordering jerseys, scheduling games and hiring a coaching staff were just some of the tasks that needed completion, along with selecting a team name.

Before the Copperheads moniker was selected, potential names such as Venom, King Cobras, Pythons and Chiefs were floated. In the end, Coaldale native Barry Overn created the now-familiar Copperheads logo.

For 2026/2027, Coaldale will sport a new look, with that original logo emblazoned inside a 20th anniversary patch, designed by board member Nate Thomas-Wall.

“We will be showcasing new orange 20-year team jerseys this year,” said Kelly Wiebe, Director of Operations for the Copperheads.

 Wiebe added the new jersey is just the tip of the iceberg for the team’s anniversary and will be showcased for the first time at the team’s home opener.

“We have invited our first team members to our home opener game,” she said, as the Copperheads will kick off 2026/2027 on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. against Cochrane.

A few other 20th anniversary plans are still in the works, according to Wiebe, who added that since the beginning, founding members Kevin and Kelly Wiebe, Kevin Fujita, Gord Pickles, Gord Elliott and Don Foxall plus Harvey Pomreinke, who came aboard in 2009, have developed one of the most successful junior hockey teams in the HJHL.

This milestone season, the team will be led by head coach Doug Paisley, who has been with the organization since 2020. Paisley will be joined by assistant coach, and Coaldale native Jaime Gyorrfy, along with alumni player Kristan Stocker and goaltender coach Josh Breznik.

Wiebe added the Coaldale franchise’s 20th anniversary is only part of the story, with the HJHL also set to recognize a huge milestone.

“It is kind of cool for us officially representing halfway 20 years, as the Heritage Junior Hockey League celebrates their 40th anniversary this year too,” she said. “The league’s track record speaks for itself with their representation to provincials and past history. It provides a balance for players in high school, post secondary education, apprenticeships or working full time while playing. It is a perfect choice for players gaining life experience, growing with the sport while still being affordable.”

The Copperheads main camp starts Tuesday, Sept. 8 at the Snake Pit. All registration information can be found at www.coaldalecopperheads.com for interested players, as the team looks to make this 20th season something to remember.