The Alberta Junior Hockey League held the 2017 Annual General Meeting of the AJHL Board of Governors on Saturday, May 27th in Red Deer, AB. A summary of the decisions approved at the AGM and a list of important dates for the 2017-2018 AJHL Season are outlined below.
The AJHL Board of Governors was presented with an application for a change in ownership by two of its franchises. Details on the ownership status of both teams will be announced in a joint effort by the respective teams and the league in the coming days.
The AJHL Management Committee also heard a proposal from a group proposing to purchase the Olds Grizzlys. The group was granted an extension to June 30th, 2017 to meet the requirements of the league in multiple areas. Once the requirements are satisfied, an official request for a change in ownership can be reviewed by the AJHL Board of Governors.
Hockey Alberta and the Alberta Junior Hockey League will host an elite development camp in July, looking to expand upon the success of the inaugural event in 2016. Eighty elite athletes from the Alberta Minor Midget AAA Hockey League (AMMHL) will have the opportunity to participate in the AJHL Development Camp presented by Hockey Alberta, July 18-23, at the Edgeworth Centre in Camrose.
AJHL teams will open Main Camp for the 2017-2018 Season starting on Friday, August 25th. The 480-game AJHL Regular Season will begin on Friday, September 15th. Each of the 16 teams will participate in 60 regular season games, including two games at the 2017 AJHL Showcase. The 2017-2018 League Schedule will be announced in early June.
The Camrose Kodiaks will host the 11th Annual AJHL Showcase in Camrose, Alberta. The 2017 Showcase will take place from September 28th – 30th, 2017. Event details including scouting packages, ticket prices, volunteer opportunities and the game schedule will be released in June 2017.
The Western Canada Cup format will not be continued by the AJHL and its three Western partners. The AJHL Champion will once again advance to a best-of-seven series versus the BCHL Champion for the right to represent the West at the RBC Cup National Championship, similar to the Doyle Cup format that was used from 1962-2012.
The AJHL will move to a Full Interlock Schedule for the 2018-2019 Season, in which all 16 teams will play each opponent four times. The AJHL Board of Governors approved the 2019 Playoff format as follows:
• Top 14 teams qualify for the AJHL Playoffs with the top two teams receiving a first round bye
• All series will be a best-of-seven
• Round One – 3rd vs 14th, 4th vs 13th, 5th vs 12th, 6th vs 11th, 7th vs 10th, 8th vs 9th
• The top seeds play the lowest remaining team and receive home ice advantage throughout Rounds 2-4
The 2017-2018 AJHL Management Committee will include Pat Loyer (Calgary Canucks), Kevin Pratt (Camrose Kodiaks) and Al Doll (Canmore Eagles) as the South Division representatives. The North Division will be represented by Bryan Morrison (Lloydminster Bobcats), David Fitzgerald (Fort McMurray Oil Barons) and Gene Sobolewski (Bonnyville Pontiacs). Thank you to Rod Knelsen (Drumheller Dragons) and Darren Myshak (Spruce Grove Saints) for your service over the past three years.
The Alberta Junior Hockey League is operating under the direction of Chairman Greg Wood and Commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk. The AJHL Staff consists of Fran Gow (Vice President, Hockey Operations), Charla Flett (Vice-President, Communications), George McCorry (Vice President, Officiating), Dean Laschowski (Video Review Manager), Curtis Nichols (Supervisor of Officials) and Ken Dentzien (Referee Assignor).
The Annual AJHL Marketing Meeting will be held in August 2017 prior to the start of the 2017 Exhibition Season and Training Camps. The 2017 AJHL Semi-Annual Meeting will take place in Red Deer, Alberta on November 25th, 2017.
