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The Alberta Junior Hockey League has revamped its schedule within the wake of a bomb-shell exodus by 5 of its groups.
With the Okotoks Oilers, the Brooks Bandits, the Blackfalds Bulldogs, the Spruce Grove Saints and the Sherwood Park Crusaders named in a BCHL report as becoming a member of that circuit for the 2024-25 puck season, the AJHL has determined to cancel video games involving these 5 golf equipment and the remaining 11 franchises.
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However …
“Out respect for the gamers on the 5 defecting groups, we’ll enable scheduled video games amongst these golf equipment to proceed,” stated the AJHL in an announcement Thursday. “We’re responding by taking steps to guard the aggressive integrity of the AJHL and CJHL playoff system and to make sure the security of our gamers and officers.”
The sudden bolt final weekend of the 5 high-profile golf equipment had put each the provincial Junior A loop and Hockey Canada on excessive alert, with the previous opting to cancel all video games involving these groups indefinitely.
Nevertheless, Thursday’s announcement brings extra readability to the AJHL calendar transferring ahead.
The 11 groups will end the schedule as a part of the league, whereas these ‘defecting groups’ is not going to however will probably be allowed to play sanctioned video games between one another.
“We’re working diligently with our companions — together with the Canadian Junior Hockey League, Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada — to discover a decision to this uncommon state of affairs created by the 5 defecting groups and the BCHL and can present additional updates as choices are made,” stated the assertion. “The AJHL’s acknowledged imaginative and prescient to create an atmosphere that evokes belief and confidence amongst our organizations, athletes, followers, companions and stakeholders. We proceed to be the premier developmental league in Canada for student-athletes striving to capitalize on their athletic and educational skills. We’re disillusioned by the latest announcement however sit up for offering our followers with extra thrilling AJHL hockey within the months and years forward.”
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In the meantime, Postmedia has realized from league sources that the price for every of the 5 groups to affix as enlargement franchises within the BCHL is within the $1-million vary.
It’s believed the exodus wasn’t purported to be unveiled till Could, on the earliest.
A gag order is presently in place, holding the groups concerned from saying something concerning the matter at hand apart from to launch obscure information releases and supply up the compulsory ’no remark’ statements.
“Hockey Canada will proceed to work with Hockey Alberta, the Alberta Junior Hockey League and the Canadian Junior Hockey League to supply alternatives to securely get pleasure from, develop and compete in Canada’s recreation in Alberta,” stated Hockey Canada in an announcement. “Hockey Canada and our Members are tasked with guaranteeing that contributors of all ages and talents can get pleasure from enjoying hockey in communities throughout the nation, each recreationally and competitively.
‘Whereas we really feel strongly that our mannequin for delivering hockey is to the profit and security of gamers, coaches, officers, mother and father, directors and volunteers, we acknowledge that others are free to benefit from the recreation outdoors of Hockey Canada-sanctioned packages.”
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The transfer leaves 11 groups within the AJHL — sufficient to hold on into the long run.
However these leaving, together with the reigning three-time league and nationwide champion Bandits, are strong-market golf equipment.
All have introduced swagger to Alberta’s junior hockey scene and have been instrumental in sending lots of of gamers onward to the faculty puck world.
In the meantime, the BCHL’s break up from the Canadian Junior Hockey League final summer time, citing Hockey Canada’s guidelines — particularly concerning recruiting laws — had been too restrictive and that it favoured the key junior leagues, such because the WHL.
“In August 2023, Hockey Canada launched a doc that clarifies 20 advantages obtainable to contributors in Hockey Canada-sanctioned packages and are both not supplied or not assured with non-sanctioned packages, which all function with out being acknowledged by authorities in Canada and aren’t ruled by the Worldwide Ice Hockey Federation,” stated Hockey Canada in an announcement earlier this week.
The AJHL went forward and cancelled 4 video games Saturday and Sunday — all that includes not less than a kind of 5 groups named by the BCHL to have damaged away from the AJHL.
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The Saints and the Oilers did play Saturday anyway in Okotoks, with the host aspect prevailing 5-2.
And in Monday’s CJHL Prime 20 rankings, the Bandits, the Crusaders and the Oilers owned the Nos. 2, 8 and 14 spots respectively — all with ‘AJHL’ listed beside them.
With the Oilers’ exit comes the query of what’s now occurring with the 2025 Centennial Cup, the Canadian Junior Hockey League championship slated to be hosted by Okotoks?
The transfer — thereby chopping ties with Hockey Canada — means the coveted match to crown a nationwide junior champ received’t probably be performed within the Southern Alberta metropolis.
The Oilers themselves don’t have any touch upon the matter presently.
And the BCHL has gone on report to say extra particulars are upcoming in just a few weeks time.
tsaelhof@postmedia.com
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