The Alberta Junior Hockey League announced today the 2016-2017 AJHL Exhibition and Regular Season schedules. The Exhibition Season will begin on Wednesday, August 31st, 2016 with five games. Opening weekend will feature a total of 16 games with all 16 AJHL teams competing on both Friday, September 16th and Saturday, September 17th. The Regular Season concludes after 480 games on Sunday, March 5th, 2017.
AJHL Teams open Main Camp for the 2016-2017 Season starting on Friday, August 26th, followed by the start of the Exhibition Season. The 45 game Pre-Season will include a pair of four-team tournaments hosted by the Camrose Kodiaks and Okotoks Oilers. In addition, eight games will be played against interleague opponents. The Kindersley Clippers (SJHL) will compete in the Camrose Kodiaks tournament, while North Battleford (SJHL) and Bonnyville will play a home and home series. Grande Prairie will also play a three game series versus Prince George (BCHL).
Six teams will begin the 2016-2017 season with a new Head Coach, two South Division teams and four North Division teams. As of today, the upcoming season would also begin with 32 players on AJHL rosters that have already committed to a College / University for the 2017-2018 season and beyond. The total number of College commitments is expected to surpass 75 by the completion of the season.
Camrose, AB will play host to the 10th Annual AJHL Showcase from September 29th – October 1st, 2016. The Sherwood Park Crusaders will host the Spruce Grove Saints in a Pre-Showcase game on September 28th. Showcase Scout Packages are now available through the AJHL website.
The 2016 AJHL Semi-Annual Meeting will take place in Red Deer, Alberta on November 19th, 2016. The newly formed Strategic Planning Committee will bring forth recommendations to the meeting regarding the league schedule, playoff format, championship structure, parity and overall future direction of the AJHL.
The World Junior A Challenge, a showcase of Canadian and International Junior A talent, is returning to Alberta for the second time in tournament history when the Bonnyville Pontiacs host the event December 11th – 17th, 2016. For more information on the 2016 World Junior A Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca/WJAC.
The AJHL will ring in the New Year with five games from December 30th, 2016 to January 1st, 2017. The festive games will be played in the communities of Grande Prairie, Olds, Spruce Grove, Canmore and Brooks. The AJHL will break for the holidays from December 22nd – 29th, 2016.
The Canmore Eagles will take AJHL hockey to the town of Banff, Alberta for a third straight year on January 31st, 2017 when they host the Drumheller Dragons. A number of satellite games are expected to be announced over the coming weeks in Alberta communities.
CJHL Trade Deadline
The National Junior Trade Deadline is January 10th, 2017 as per Hockey Canada Regulations.
2017 AJHL Gas Drive Playoffs
The 2017 AJHL Gas Drive Playoffs will open on Thursday, March 9th, 2017. The top team in each division will receive a first round bye. The Viterra AJHL South Division and Viterra AJHL North Division will playoff to determine a divisional champion at the conclusion of Round Three. The North Division Champion and the South Division Champion will then compete in the AJHL Gas Drive Cup Final.
2017 Western Canada Cup
The 2017 Western Canada Cup will be held from April 28th – May 7th, 2017 in Penticton, BC.
2017 RBC Royal Bank Cup (National Junior A Championship)
The 2017 RBC Cup will take place from May 13th – 21st, 2017 in Cobourg, ON.
A complete League Schedule is now available on the AJHL Website www.AJHL.ca. The AJHL schedule can be exported directly to online calendars and mobile devices through the Schedule Page on the AJHL website.