It's the annual Showcase Weekend in the AJHL and this year it's taking place in Camrose. Every team will play two games this weekend.
Bonnyville Pontiacs (4-5-0-1)
The Bonnyville Pontiacs have played a sixth of their games already this season. This year Bonnyville will get a pair of Southern opponents. One of their opponents is off to a fantastic start while the other is looking to have a better October. The Pontiacs were looking to build off their first ever Viterra North Final last year but are under .500 to start the season and are sitting in the middle of the North standings. Bonnyville has had a very up and down season so far that has seen them win big but also lose big. Early on the Pontiacs are still trying to figure out their identity in the 2015/16 season.
The schedule:
Friday, October 2nd vs. Okotoks Oilers puck drop @4:30
Saturday, October 3rd @ Calgary Canucks puck drop @1:00
By the numbers:
Scoring 1st: 4-1-0-1 not scoring 1st: 0-4
Tied after 1st: 0-1-0-1 leading after 1st 4-1 trailing after 1st: 0-3
Tied after 2nd: 1-0-0-1 leading after 2nd: 3-0 trailing after 2nd: 0-5
Drayton Valley Thunder (2-3-2)
The Drayton Valley Thunder come into showcase weekend on a three game winless streak. Drayton Valley will look for a strong start to the month of October as they take on a pair of Southern teams at showcase weekend. Both of the Thunders opponents are off to better starts this season than they were at this point last year. Drayton Valley has already seen a lot of hockey including three games that have gone to overtime.
The schedule:
Thursday, October 1st vs. Calgary Mustangs puck drop @4:30
Saturday, October 3rd @ Okotoks Oilers puck drop @noon
By the numbers:
Scoring 1st: 1-0-1-1 not scoring 1st: 1-3
Tied after 1st: 2-2-1-1 leading after 1st: 0-0 trailing after 1st: 0-1
Tied after 2nd: 2-0-0-1 leading after 2nd: 0-0 trailing after 2nd: 0-3-1
Fort McMurray Oil Barons (0-6-1-1)
It's been a tough start to the 2015/16 season for the Fort McMurray Oil Barons who are still looking for their first win of the season. The Oil Barons enter the weekend sitting in last place in the Viterra North Division. The schedule doesn't get any easier for Fort McMurray as they will take on the top team in the South (Camrose) as well as the Calgary Canucks. The Oil Barons are still looking for their identity under new Head Coach Tom Keca.
The schedule:
Friday, October 2nd vs. Calgary Canucks puck drop @7:00
Saturday, October 3rd @ Camrose Kodiaks puck drop @7:00
By the numbers:
Scoring 1st: 0-1-0-1 not scoring 1st: 0-5-1
Tied after 1st: 0-4-1 leading after 1st: 0-0-0-1 trailing after 1st: 0-2
Tied after 2nd: 0-1-1 leading after 2nd: 0-0-0-1 trailing after 2nd: 0-5
Grande Prairie Storm (1-4-2)
Grande Prairie will be looking to build off their first win of the season as they enter Showcase Weekend. The win by the Storm on Sunday snapped a season opening six game winless streak. Grande Prairie has lost some close games this season and will be trying to turn things around starting this weekend. The Storm will take on two teams that are sitting in the middle of the standings in the Viterra South Division.
The schedule:
Friday, October 2nd vs. Canmore Eagles puck drop @8:00
Saturday, October 3rd @ Drumheller Dragons puck drop @4:30
By the numbers:
Scoring 1st: 1-2-1 not scoring 1st: 0-2-0-1
Tied after 1st: 1-2-1 leading after 1st: 0-0 trailing after 1st: 0-3-0-1
Tied after 2nd: 0-1 leading after 2nd: 1-0-1 trailing after 2nd: 0-3-0-1
Lloydminster Bobcats (7-1-0)
The test for the Lloydminster Bobcats keep on coming as they will take on the top two teams in the Viterra South Division. The RBC Cup hosts are off to a flying start to the 2015/16 season having lost just one game (to Spruce Grove). Lloydminster has so far proven that they can win either close low scoring games or can dominate teams start to finish.
The schedule:
Thursday, October 1st vs. Camrose Kodiaks puck drop @8:00
Friday, October 2nd @ Brooks Bandits puck drop @3:30
By the numbers:
Scoring 1st: 6-0 not scoring 1st: 1-1
Tied after 1st: 4-0 leading after 1st: 3-0 trailing after 1st: 0-1
Tied after 2nd: 1-0 leading after 2nd: 6-0 trailing after 2nd: 0-1
Sherwood Park Crusaders (5-2-0)
The Sherwood Park Crusaders are off to a good start to the 2015/16 season, keeping close to the Lloydminster Bobcats and Spruce Grove Saints in the Viterra North Division. The Crusaders are coming off a big 10-4 victory over the Calgary Mustangs on Sunday. Sherwood Park will play two teams in the middle of the pack in the South Division. The Crusaders are looking for October to be as good to them as September was.
The schedule:
Friday, October 2nd vs. Olds Grizzlys puck drop @1:00
Saturday, October 3rd @ Canmore Eagles puck drop @3:30
By the numbers:
Scoring 1st: 3-0 not scoring 1st: 2-2
When tied after 1st: 2-0 when leading after 1st: 2-0 when trailing after 1st: 1-2
When tied after 2nd: 0-1 when leading after 2nd: 4-0 when trailing after 2nd: 1-1
Spruce Grove Saints (8-0-0)
What can we say about the Spruce Grove Saints other than they seem to be right on track for another run to another AJHL title starting the season with an 8-0 record. The Saints will meet up with an old foe at Showcase Weekend in the Brooks Bandits as well as the Olds Grizzlys. For the first time in a number of years, the Saints will have to travel for Showcase Weekend. The question everyone in the AJHL is when will the Saints train come off the rails?
The schedule:
Thursday, October 1st vs. Brooks Bandits puck drop @7:00
Saturday, October 3rd @ Olds Grizzlys puck drop @8:00
By the numbers:
Scoring 1st: 8-0 not scoring 1st: 0-0
Tied after 1st: 3-0 leading after 1st: 5-0 trailing after 1st: 0-0
Tied after 2nd: 1-0 leading after 2nd: 7-0 trailing after 2nd: 0-0
Whitecourt Wolverines (3-2-2)
The Whitecourt Wolverines have started off the 2015/16 season around the .500 mark. In the past, the Wolverines have seen some ups and downs at Showcase Weekend. This year Whitecourt will get Drumheller and the Calgary Mustangs as opposition. The Wolverines have had success with opponents who are in the upper part of the standings going into Showcase Weekend.
The schedule:
Thursday, October 1st vs. Drumheller Dragons puck drop 3:30
Friday, October 2nd @ Calgary Mustangs puck drop noon
By the numbers:
Scoring 1st: 2-0 not scoring 1st: 1-2-1-1
When tied after 1st: 2-1-1-1 when leading after 1st: 1-0 when trailing after 1st: 0-1
When tied after 2nd: 1-1-0-1 when leading after 2nd: 2-0 when trailing after 2nd: 0-1-1
Brooks Bandits (4-2-0)
The Brooks Bandits will look to bounce back at Showcase Weekend following one of the teams worst losses in recent memory. That being said the Bandits are still among the elite teams in the AJHL and sit just four points back of Camrose for the top spot in the South. The one drawback for Brooks is that they will have to contend with the top two teams in the North. The only games this weekend that might be more watched will be the two games that the Kodiaks will play.
The schedule:
Thursday, October 1st @ Spruce Grove puck drop 7:00
Friday, October 2nd vs. Lloydminster puck drop 3:30
By the numbers:
Scoring 1st: 4-0 not scoring 1st: 0-2
When tied after 1st: 1-0 when leading after 1st: 3-0 when trailing after 1st: 0-2
When tied after 2nd: 1-0 when leading after 2nd: 3-0 when trailing after 2nd: 0-2
Calgary Canucks (2-6-1)
It was another slow start to the season for the Canucks who enter Showcase Weekend with (rec) and are sitting (standings). A more veteran Calgary team hasn't been happy with the way they have started the season and will look to right the ship starting October 2nd. The break for the Canucks might be that they will get two teams that are trying to find their identity after making several changes in the offseason.
The schedule:
Friday, October 2nd @ Fort McMurray Oil Barons puck drop @7:00
Saturday, October 3rd vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs puck drop @1:00
By the numbers:
Scoring 1st: 1-1-1 not scoring 1st: 1-5
Tied after 1st: 2-1-1 leading after 1st 0-1 trailing after 1st 0-4
Tied after 2nd: 0-1 leading after 2nd 2-1 trailing after 2nd 0-4-1
Calgary Mustangs (3-5-0)
There were high expectations from both Calgary teams this season and the month of September wasn't kind to either team. The Mustangs are however off to a better start then this time last year as they find themselves right in the thick of the pack in the Viterra South Division. The Mustangs will attempt to hang around, and nothing would work better for them than a good start to the month of October.
The schedule:
Thursday, October 1st @ Drayton Valley Thunder puck drop @4:30
Friday, October 2nd vs. Whitecourt Wolverines puck drop @noon
By the numbers:
Scoring 1st: 1-0 not scoring 1st: 2-5
Tied after 1st: 0-1 leading after 1st: 1-0 trailing after 1st: 2-4
Tied after 2nd: 1-2 leading after 2nd: 1-0 trailing after 2nd: 1-3
Camrose Kodiaks (6-1-0)
For a second straight season, the Kodiaks enter Showcase Weekend in top spot in the Viterra South Division. Camrose has been solid on all fronts and at least early on this season have been the team to beat in the south. This year the Kodiaks won't have to go far for Showcase Weekend as they will host the 15 other AJHL teams. They will also get their first look at the RBC Cup hosts.
The schedule:
Thursday, October 1st @ Lloydminster Bobcats puck drop @8:00
Saturday, October 3rd vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons puck drop @7:00
By the numbers:
Scoring 1st: 3-0 not scoring 1st: 3-1
Tied after 1st: 3-0 leading after 1st: 2-0 trailing after 1st: 1-1
Tied after 2nd: 1-0 leading after 2nd: 4-0 trailing after 2nd: 1-1
Canmore Eagles (4-3-0)
The Canmore Eagles finished the month of September above .500 and have found themselves in the middle of the pack in the Viterra South Division. The Eagles are coming off a 5-3 victory over the Olds Grizzlys on Tuesday and will be looking to keep the streak going. Take away the first two games of the season and the Eagles have been solid defensively and are 4-1.
The schedule:
Friday, October 2nd @ Grande Prairie Storm puck drop @8:00
Saturday, October 3rd vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders puck drop @3:30
By the numbers:
Scoring 1st: 2-0 not scoring 1st: 2-3
Tied after 1st: 1-0 leading after 1st: 2-0 trailing after 1st: 1-3
Tied after 2nd: 1-0 leading after 2nd: 2-0 trailing after 2nd: 1-3
Drumheller Dragons (4-3-0)
The Drumheller Dragons have had an up and down season so far, but their last two games have made it look like they've turned a corner. The Dragons enter Showcase Weekend on a two game winning streak. Drumheller will be looking to continue their winning ways this weekend.
The schedule:
Thursday, October 1st @ Whitecourt Wolverines puck drop @3:30
Saturday, October 3rd vs. Grande Prairie Storm puck drop @4:30
By the numbers:
Scoring 1st: 3-2 not scoring 1st: 1-1
Tied after 1st: 0-0 leading after 1st: 4-1 trailing after 1st: 0-2
Tied after 2nd: 1-0 leading after 2nd: 3-0 trailing after 2nd: 0-3
Okotoks Oilers (5-1-0-1)
Despite icing a young team, the Okotoks Oilers have come strong out of the gate. They will head into Showcase Weekend on a three game winning streak and just one point back of top spot in the Viterra South Division. A young Okotoks squad will look to keep to their winning ways as they get set to “showcase” their talent.
The schedule:
Friday, October 2nd @ Bonnyville Pontiacs puck drop @4:30
Saturday, October 3rd vs. Drayton Valley Thunder puck drop @noon
Olds Grizzlys (2-5-0)
The Olds Grizzlys had a tough September and find themselves in last place in the Viterra South Division. Olds enters Showcase Weekend having lost three straight games. Things don't get any easier for the Grizzlys as they take on two of the top teams in the North.
The schedule:
Friday, October 2nd @ Sherwood Park Crusaders puck drop @1:00
Saturday, October 3rd vs. Spruce Grove Saints puck drop @8:00
By the numbers:
Scoring 1st: 1-1 not scoring 1st: 1-4
Tied after 1st: 1-2 leading after 1st: 1-1 trailing after 1st: 0-2
Tied after 2nd: 0-1 leading after 2nd: 2-0 trailing after 2nd: 0-4
Story by Chris Colwell