The second half of the AJHL season is underway, this weekend 16 games will be played in the AJHL. This weekend will also be the first weekend for a bunch of players to play with their new teams following the December 1st roster cut down day.
Bonnyville Pontiacs (12-11-6–30 points 5th in the North)
The Pontiacs will play a pair of interdivisional home games. Friday Bonnyville will take on the Spruce Grove Saints. It's the second time this season that the two teams have met up. The Saints won the first meeting in October. Sunday the Pontiacs are back in action against the Drayton Valley Thunder. It will be the third of six meetings between the two teams. The two teams split a pair of games in Drayton Valley early in October. Friday's game will start at 7:30 while puck drop on Sunday will be at 2:00.
Drayton Valley Thunder (10-14-5–25 points 6th in the North)
Drayton Valley will open the weekend with a home and home against Lloydminster before traveling to Bonnyville. Thursday Drayton Valley will host Lloydminster before traveling to the boarder city on Saturday. It will be the fourth and fifth meeting of the season between the two teams. Drayton Valley leads the season series 2-1 with the home team winning all three games so far. Sunday the Thunder will be in Bonnyville to play the Pontiacs for the third time this season. Drayton Valley split the two games on home ice against Bonnyville in early October. Puck drop for Thursday and Saturday will be at 7:30 while Sunday will be at 2:00.
Fort McMurray Oil Barons (17-12-3–37 points tied for 3rd in the North)
The Oil Barons will play three games in two and half days in the south division this weekend. Friday they will be in Okotoks for the second of three meetings against the Oilers this season. The Oilers won the first meeting at showcase weekend. Saturday the Oil Barons will be in Brooks to take on the Bandits. Saturday will be the first of two meetings in the regular season between the two teams. Sunday the Oil Barons will finish their road trip in Calgary against the Canucks for the second of three meetings this season. Fort McMurray edged Calgary 3-2 at showcase weekend. Puck drop will be at 7:00 on Friday and Saturday while Sunday the puck will drop at 2:00.
Grande Prairie Storm (11-21-0–22 points 7thin the North)
The Grande Prairie Storm will host a pair of teams from the south. Friday the top team in the AJHL comes to town as the Camrose Kodiaks pay their only visit to Grande Prairie. Friday will be the first time this season that the two teams have met up. Saturday the Canmore Eagles come to town, like the Kodiaks it will be the first meeting of the season between the two teams. Puck drop for both teams will be at 7:30.
Lloydminster Bobcats (17-11-3–37 points tied for 3rd in the North)
The Lloydminster Bobcats will play three interdivisional games including home and home with the Drayton Valley Thunder. The Bobcats will be in Drayton Valley on Thursday before returning home on Saturday to host the Thunder. The Bobcats are 1-2 versus Drayton Valley this season; both teams have won their games at home. Sunday the Bobcats will host Spruce Grove for the fourth of six meetings this season. Lloydminster trails the season series 2-1, like their season series against the Thunder the home team has won all three games. Puck drop for Thursday and Saturday's games will be at 7:30 while Sunday's game will be at 2:30.
Sherwood Park Crusaders (18-13-3–39 points 2nd in the North)
The Crusaders will host a pair of teams from the south. Friday the Calgary Canucks pay their only visit to the Sherwood Park Arena. The Canucks won the first meeting between the two teams back in October. Sunday the Crusaders will host the Canmore Eagles for the second and final meeting between the two teams; the Eagles won the first matchup back in October. Opening faceoff for Friday will be at 7:00 while on Sunday it will be at 2:15.
Spruce Grove Saints (23-5-3–49 points 1st in the North)
The Spruce Grove Saints will play a pair of inter divisional road games this weekend. Friday will be the second of six meetings between the Pontiacs and Saints. Spruce Grove defeated Bonnyville 6-4 on October 8th. Sunday the Saints will be in Lloydminster to take on the Bobcats. The Saints lead the season series 2-1 but lost their only game in Lloydminster in November. Puck drop for Friday will be at 7:30 while the opening faceoff on Sunday will be at 2:30.
Whitecourt Wolverines (8-18-4–20 points 8th in the North)
The Wolverines will play just once this weekend as they will host the Camrose Kodiaks. It will be the third and final meeting between the two teams. The two teams have split the first two games of the season series; Whitecourt earned a 4-2 win in Camrose on October 25th. Opening faceoff will be at 7:30 on Saturday night.
Brooks Bandits (23-6-1–47 points tied for 2nd in the South)
The Bandits will play twice this weekend. Friday they will look for their 10th straight win in Drumheller. It will be the fourth of six meetings between the two teams. The Bandits own a 2-1 series lead with the home team winning all three games. Saturday the Bandits will welcome the Fort McMurray Oil Barons. It will be the first of two meetings between the two teams. Puck drop for the game on Friday will be at 7:30 while on Saturday the opening faceoff will be at 7:00.
Calgary Canucks (10-17-4—24 points 7th in the South)
It is probably the most interesting weekend for the Canucks in the AJHL schedule. Friday they will be in Sherwood Park for the second and final meeting of the season before returning home Sunday to play the Fort McMurray Oil Barons. Friday will be the second and final meeting of the season between the Crusaders and Canucks. The Canucks earned a 5-4 win over the Crusaders on October 5th. Sunday will be the second of three meetings between the Oil Barons and Canucks. Fort McMurray defeated Calgary at showcase weekend. Puck drop for the game on Friday will be at 7:00 while Sunday will be at 2:00.
Calgary Mustangs (7-23-2–16 points 8th in the South)
The Calgary Mustangs will play a pair of road games against divisional opponents. Friday the Mustangs will be in Olds to take on the Grizzlys for the fourth of seven meetings between the two teams. The road team has won all three games in the season series. The Mustangs edged the Grizzlys 3-2 on Halloween in the last meeting between the two clubs. Saturday the Mustangs will be in Drumheller to take on the Dragons for the fourth of six meetings between the two clubs. The Dragons have won all three games in the season series so far. Opening faceoff for Friday will be at 7:00 while on Saturday puck drop will be at 7:30.
Camrose Kodiaks (24-3-2–50 points 1st in the South)
The Camrose Kodiaks will hit the road to the north for a pair of games this weekend. Friday will be the first of two meetings between the Kodiaks and Grande Prairie Storm. Saturday the Kodiaks will play the Whitecourt Wolverines for the third and final time this season. The Kodiaks have split the first two games of the season series; the Kodiaks earned a 5-2 win at showcase weekend. Opening faceoff for both games will be at 7:30.
Canmore Eagles (13-16-1–27 points 6th in the South)
The Canmore Eagles will be in the north for a pair of games this weekend. Saturday will be the first of two meetings between the Eagles and Grande Prairie Storm. Sunday Canmore will be in Sherwood Park to take on the Crusaders. The Eagles defeated the Crusaders 5-3 on October 3rd in Canmore. Puck drop for the game on Saturday will be at 7:30 while Sunday the opening faceoff will be at 2:15.
Drumheller Dragons (17-9-5–39 points 4th in the South)
The Drumheller Dragons will play a pair of home games against interdivisional opponents. Friday the Dragons will host the Brooks Bandits for the fourth of six meetings between the two teams. The Dragons edged the Bandits 4-3 on November 9th in Drumheller. Saturday the Dragons will host the Calgary Mustangs. The Dragons have all three matchups against the Mustangs this season, the most recent game they won 8-6 in Calgary on November 18th. Opening faceoff for both games will be at 7:30.
Okotoks Oilers (22-7-3–47 points tied for 2nd in the South)
Okotoks will play just once this weekend, and that will be on Friday night against the Fort McMurray Oil Barons. The Oilers edged Fort McMurray 4-3 at showcase weekend. Friday will be the second of three meetings between the two clubs. Puck drop will be at 7:00.
Olds Grizzlys (15-12-4–34 points 5th in the South)
Olds will play just once this weekend as they will host the Calgary Mustangs on Friday night. The Grizzlys have won two of three games against the Mustangs this season. The Grizzlys have lost their only home game versus the Mustangs this season. Puck drop will be at 7:00.
Story by Chris Colwell
@Cjcolwell
