The first weekend of 2015 opens up with 13 games being played. The Canucks and Oilers have the weekend off while the Oil Barons and Crusaders will play just once; everyone else will play a pair of games this weekend.
Bonnyville Pontiacs (15-15-6)
The Bonnyville Pontiacs start off 2015 sitting in fifth place in the North division. Bonnyville will play one game on the road and one at home. Friday they will be in Camrose to battle the Kodiaks for the second and final time this season. The Kodiaks shutout the Pontiacs 3-0 on October 18th. On Saturday, they will play host to the Grande Prairie Storm for the fifth of six meetings this season. The two teams have split the first four games of the season series with both teams winning once at home. Friday's game starts at 7:00 while Saturday puck drop will be at 7:30.
Drayton Valley Thunder (11-18-8)
The Drayton Valley Thunder go into 2015 sitting sixth in the North division and are looking to build on the momentum of snapping a season high 14 game losing streak on their final game of 2014. The Thunder will play a pair of home games to start off 2015. Friday will be the second and final meeting of the season. Drayton Valley defeated Olds 6-2 on September 25th. Saturday they will play host to the Calgary Mustangs for the second and final time this season. The Thunder doubled up the Mustangs 8-4 on October 26th. Both games start at 7:30.
Fort McMurray Oil Barons (22-14-4)
The third place Oil Barons are gearing up to host the Western Canada cup and are looking for a good start to 2015 as they will take on the Grande Prairie Storm on Friday. It will be the fifth of six meetings between the two teams. The Oil Barons lead the season series 3-1 and have both games on home ice against the Storm. Puck drop will be at 8:00.
Grande Prairie Storm (13-25-2)
The Grande Prairie Storm start 2015 in the seventh and final playoff spot in the North Division. The Storm will finish off a five game road trip with visits to Fort McMurray on Friday and Bonnyville on Saturday. The Storm have dropped both games this season to the Oil Barons at the Casman Center. Against the Pontiacs, the Storm have split their four meetings and are 1-1 at the RJ Lalonde Arena. Puck drop for Friday's game will be at 8:00 while Saturday opening faceoff is at 7:00.
Lloydminster Bobcats (23-12-5)
The Lloydminster Bobcats sit in second spot in the North Division as they kick off 2015 with a pair of road games. Friday the Bobcats take on the Whitecourt Wolverines and then on Saturday they will be in Sherwood Park to battle the Crusaders. Friday will be the fourth meeting of the year between the Bobcats and Wolverines but the first in Whitecourt. The Bobcats have won all three meetings so far this year. Saturday will be the sixth and final meeting of the year between the Bobcats and Crusaders. The Bobcats hold a 3-2 edge in the season series but lost their last game to the Crusaders 4-3. Puck drop for Friday's game will be at 7:30 while Saturday opening faceoff will be at 7:00.
Sherwood Park Crusaders (20-17-4)
The fourth place Crusaders have a light weekend playing just one game to open up 2015. Saturday will be the final meeting of the season between the Crusaders and Bobcats. The two teams have split the first two games at the Sherwood Park Arena.
Spruce Grove Saints (30-6-3)
The first place Saints will start 2015 with “home” game in the neighboring community of Stony Plain before returning to the friendly confines of the Grant Fuhr Arena. Friday's game will be against the Canmore Eagles while Saturday will be against the Olds Grizzlys; both meetings will be the second and final meetings of the season. The Saints edged the Eagles 4-3 in November, in October the Saints shutout the Grizzlys 4-0. Puck drop for both games will be at 7:00.
Whitecourt Wolverines (11-21-5)
Last calendar year was not friendly to the Whitecourt Wolverines, who enter 2015 in last place in the North Division. The Wolverines will look to turn things around as they open with a pair of home games. Friday they will take on the Lloydminster Bobcats before finishing off the weekend on Sunday against the Calgary Mustangs. Friday will be the fourth meeting of the season between the two teams, but just the first time the two teams will have played at the Scott Safety Center. Sunday the Calgary Mustangs will make their only visit to the Scott Safety Center as the two teams play the first of two games this season. Puck drop for Friday's game will be at 7:30 while opening faceoff for Sunday will be at 2:30.
Brooks Bandits (28-9-1) —-Drumheller Dragons (22-12-5)
The second place Bandits and fourth place Dragons will play a home and home as they renew their south division rivalry. It will be the fifth and sixth meetings of the season. The Bandits own a 3-1 series lead having won both games at home and splitting the two games in Drumheller. Puck drop for Friday's game will be at 7:00 and opening faceoff for Saturday will be at 7:30.
Calgary Canucks (13-21-5)
The seventh place Canucks have the weekend off and will be looking to the North for some help as they watch their cross town rivals (Calgary Mustangs) play twice. The Canucks will host their first game of 2015 on Wednesday January 7th against the Brooks Bandits.
Calgary Mustangs (9-28-3)
Last calendar year was not kind to the last place Calgary Mustangs as they were only able to earn nine wins but will look to turn the page and start off 2015 with a couple of wins. Saturday the Mustangs travel to Drayton Valley to take on the Thunder for the second and final time this season. The Thunder defeated the Mustangs back in October. Sunday the Mustangs will take on the Whitecourt Wolverines for the first time this season. Puck drop for Saturday will be at 7:30 while opening faceoff on Sunday will be at 2:30.
Camrose Kodiaks (31-4-2)
Fresh off clinching a playoff spot before the end of 2014 the first place Camrose Kodiaks will start off 2015 with a pair of home games. Friday they will host the Bonnyville Pontiacs for the second and final time this season. The Kodiaks shutout the Pontiacs 3-0 back in October. Saturday the Kodiaks welcome the Canmore Eagles for the fourth time this season. The Kodiaks have won all three meetings this season including defeating the Eagles 9-1 at the Edgeworth Center on November 9th. Puck drop for both games will be at 7:00.
Canmore Eagles (18-18-1)
Thanks to a pair of wins the sixth place Eagles finished off 2014 with a .500 record. Canmore will start 2015 with a pair of road games. Friday night they will take on the Spruce Grove Saints in Stony Plain. The Eagles dropped their first meeting of the season to the Saints. Saturday night the Eagles will be in Camrose to take on the Kodiaks for the fourth time this season. The Eagles will be trying for their first win this season against the Kodiaks. Opening faceoff for both teams will be at 7:00.
Okotoks Oilers (24-11-4)
The third place Okotoks Oilers will have the weekend off. The worst part for the Oilers is the team above them (Brooks) and below them (Drumheller) will play each other twice this weekend. The Oilers will start 2015 in Calgary on Tuesday January 6th.
Olds Grizzlys (18-14-5)
The fifth place Grizzlys will hit the road north for a pair of games this weekend. Friday they will take on the Drayton Valley Thunder for the second and final time this season. The Grizzlys lost their only other meeting with the Thunder this season. Saturday the road trip continues in Spruce Grove. The Saints topped the Grizzlys in October. Puck drop for Friday's game will be at 7:30 while opening faceoff on Saturday will be at 7:00.