Photo Credit – Dave Watling:
The Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) held its Semi-Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors on Saturday, November 23rd. Following several discussions regarding the progression of the league, the Board of Governors approved a full interlock schedule beginning in the 2020-2021 regular season.
The new interlock schedule will consist of 15 teams playing four games versus each AJHL opponent, in addition to two games at the Annual AJHL Showcase, for a total of 58 games in the 2020-2021 season. The 2021-2022 season will consist of 16 teams playing four games versus each AJHL opponent, including two games at the Annual AJHL Showcase, for a total of 60 games.
The top 14 AJHL teams will qualify for the 2021 and 2022 AJHL Playoffs with the top two teams receiving a first-round bye. Each round will be a best-of-seven series.
The 2020 Inter Pipeline AJHL Playoffs are schedule to begin Sunday, March 1st. The playoff format for 2020 remains as follows:
? North Division – Top 7 teams qualify for best-of-seven 1st Round (1st place receives Bye, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5)
? South Division – Top 6 teams qualify for best-of-seven 1st Round (1st & 2nd place receive Bye, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5)
The Alberta Junior Hockey League will follow the NHL?s rulebook with the introduction of Hybrid Icing in 2020-2021. The AJHL will also implement Side-of-Ice Face Off Choice after icing and the start of powerplays next season. If a team has iced the puck, the non-offending team will have choice of which side of the net they would like the faceoff to take place. When a team is going on the powerplay, with the faceoff being inside the zone of the team incurring the penalty, the coach of the team beginning the powerplay will have a choice of which side he would like the faceoff to take place.
The 2020 Annual General Meeting of the AJHL Board of Governors will be held in Canmore, AB on May 22nd and 23rd, 2020 in conjunction with the Annual AJHL Coaches Meeting on Friday, May 22nd, 2020.