A Cold Lake connection – Vogts Views

When the Willow Creek Composite High School Cobras take on the Cold Lake Royals in the provincial football final this Saturday, it will have special interest for me.
My ties to Cold Lake are deep.
When I was in university, my house league football team was loaded with Royals – the entire right side of my offensive line, and two wide receivers were all from Cold Lake.
One of my classmates in university, a grad of LCI in Lethbridge, was coach of the Royals for the better part of a decade.
And, the deepest tie of all, runs all the way back to 1984 and Coaldale, Alberta.
My best friend growing up was Chris Vining. We shared a locker in high school, roomed together in university, and I was best man at his first wedding. He was there at my dad’s funeral too.
He was also on that offensive line, protecting my blind side.
Not too much before I moved to Claresholm, he moved to Cold Lake, where he is the current principal at the elementary school on the airforce base, and is currently sitting on Cold Lake city council.
It is funny how life pulls you apart and can bring you back together.
I texted him right after the Cobras won on Saturday, and hoped to meet up with him in Lacombe for the provincial final. I’m not sure we’re going to make that work, but I am saying this: You, Chris Vining, I am betting you a donation to the local food bank. Claresholm versus Cold Lake. Cobras versus Royals. Vining versus Vogt. May the best team win. (Go Cobras)