It's a busy weekend in the AJHL that will see 16 games played over the next three days.
Bonnyville Pontiacs (11-6-1) & Grande Prairie Storm (2-11-2)
Two teams going in opposite directions will play twice this weekend in Grande Prairie. Earlier this week the Pontiacs had their nine game winning streak snapped by the Sherwood Park Crusaders. Meanwhile, the Storm are looking to snap a seven game losing streak. Despite Bonnyville extended winning streak the team will enter the weekend in third place three points back of the Lloydminster Bobcats. Grande Prairie will be looking to avoid their second eight game losing streak of the season. The Storm enter the weekend tied for the seventh spot with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons.
Upcoming schedule:
Bonnyville
Friday, October 23rd @ Grande Prairie—puck drop 7:30
Saturday, October 24th @ Grande Prairie—puck drop 7:30
Wednesday, October 28th vs. Lloydminster—puck drop 7:30
Grande Prairie:
Friday, October 23rd vs. Bonnyville—puck drop 7:30
Saturday, October 24th vs. Bonnyville—puck drop 7:30
Drayton Valley Thunder (4-6-4)
Drayton Valley enters the weekend looking to build off a 4-3 victory over Grande Prairie last weekend. Sitting two games below .500, the Thunder find themselves quickly falling out of the race for top four in the Viterra North Division. Drayton Valley will host a pair of South Division teams, both of which they took on earlier this month (@showcase weekend) and lost both. The Thunder have won two straight home games and will look to run their home winning streak to four.
Upcoming schedule:
Friday, October 23rd vs. Calgary Mustangs—-puck drop 7:30
Sunday, October 25th vs. Okotoks—puck drop 2:30
Fort McMurray Oil Barons (1-12-4)
It has been a disappointing and frustrating season for the Fort McMurray Oil Barons who enter the weekend tied for the last playoff spot with the Grande Prairie Storm. The Oil Barons are winless in their last five games going 0-4-1 during that time. Fort McMurray will hit the road for a pair of road games in the Edmonton region looking to turn their season around.
Upcoming schedule:
Saturday, October 24th @ Spruce Grove—puck drop 7:00
Sunday, October 25th @ Sherwood Park—puck drop 2:15
Lloydminster Bobcats (13-2-0)
The RBC Cup hosts are rolling and continuing to close the gap on the top seeded Spruce Grove Saints. Lloydminster is 6-1 in the month of October with five games remaining. Entering this weekend the Bobcats have won five straight. The Bobcats will play a pair of top ranked South Division opponents one at home and one on the road.
Upcoming schedule:
Friday, October 23rd vs. Okotoks—puck drop 7:30
Saturday, October 24th @ Camrose—puck drop 7:00
Wednesday, October 28th vs. Bonnyville—puck drop 7:30
Sherwood Park Crusaders (9-6-0)
After a tough start to the month of October, the Crusaders seem to have turned things around having won three in a row and sit three points back of Whitecourt for fourth place. Sherwood Park has also won three straight at the Sherwood Park Arena coming into this weekend. With two games on home ice, the Crusaders will look to run their overall and home winning streak to five games.
Upcoming schedule:
Saturday, October 24th vs. Okotoks—7:00
Sunday, October 25th vs. Fort McMurray—2:15
Spruce Grove Saints (15-2-0)
Spruce Grove sits at the top of the Viterra North Division, but they have company (Lloydminster Bobcats) sitting just four points behind them. The Saints enter the weekend on a three game winning streak. The Saints will play a pair of divisional rivals this weekend and will look to keep their lead on the top of the standings.
Upcoming schedule:
Friday, October 23 @ Whitecourt—puck drop 7:30
Saturday, October 24th vs. Fort McMurray—puck drop 7:00
Whitecourt Wolverines (9-2-3)
The Whitecourt Wolverines had their franchise record seven game winning streak snapped, but they still haven't lost in regulation in nine games running up a 7-0-2 record during that time. The Wolverines enter the weekend two points back of the third place Pontiacs with four games in hand. Whitecourt will play a pair of home games this weekend looking to build on a four game home winning streak.
Upcoming schedule:
Friday, October 23rd vs. Spruce Grove—puck drop 7:30
Saturday, October 24th vs. Calgary Mustangs—puck drop 7:30
Brooks Bandits (8-3-1) & Canmore Eagles (8-6-1)
The battle for third in the Viterra South Division as for the second time this season the Eagles and Bandits will partake in a home and home this weekend. The Bandits are coming off a shootout loss to Spruce Grove last Saturday that snapped their four game winning streak. October has been decent to Brooks seeing them go 5-1-1, both losses to Spruce Grove. Canmore will be looking to rebound from back to back road losses last weekend in the North. The Eagles lost both games to Brooks on opening weekend and then took off from there and have powered their way into the top four in the South.
Upcoming schedule:
Brooks
Friday, October 23rd @ Canmore—puck drop 7:00
Saturday, October 24th vs. Canmore—puck drop 7:00
Monday, October 26th @ Calgary Mustangs—puck drop 7:30
Canmore
Friday, October 23rd vs. Brooks—puck drop 7:00
Saturday, October 24th @ Brooks—puck drop 7:00
Calgary Canucks (6-9-1)
The Calgary Canucks have won three of their last four games including two in a row. October has been very kind to the Canucks who are 4-3 and enter the weekend tied with Drumheller for fifth place in the Viterra South Division. Calgary will play a pair of road games within their division.
Upcoming schedule:
Friday, October 23rd @ Drumheller—puck drop 7:30
Sunday, October 25th @ Camrose—puck drop 2:00
Tuesday, October 27th vs. Olds–puck drop 7:00
Thursday, October 29th @ Calgary Mustangs—puck drop 7:30
Calgary Mustangs (4-9-2)
October has been a rough month for the Mustangs that has seen them go 1-4-2 with six straight losses (0-4-2). Calgary will look to rebound as they continue their four game northern road trip. Calgary has lost two of their last three games in overtime and sit just one point ahead of Olds for the final playoff spot in the South. The Mustangs will look to close the gap on the Canucks and Dragons for the fifth spot.
Upcoming schedule:
Friday, October 23rd @ Drayton Valley—puck drop 7:30
Saturday, October 24th @ Whitecourt Wolverines—puck drop 7:30
Monday, October 26th vs. Brooks—puck drop 7:30
Thursday, October 29th vs. Calgary Canucks—puck drop 7:30
Camrose Kodiaks (10-2-2)
Camrose enters the weekend on a three game winning streak after starting the month 1-1-2 that has vaulted them back into first place in the Viterra South Division. Camrose is a perfect 6-0 as the home team at the Encana Arena, which is a good thing for them as they will host a pair of teams this weekend.
Upcoming schedule:
Saturday, October 24th vs. Lloydminster—puck drop 7:00
Sunday, October 25th vs. Calgary Canucks—puck drop 7:00
Drumheller Dragons (6-8-1)
Drumheller has had a tough October that has seen them go 2-5-1 and drop out of the top four in the Viterra South Division. The Dragons have lost two straight games coming into this weekend. Drumheller will have one game at home and one on the road.
Upcoming schedule:
Friday, October 23rd vs. Calgary Canucks—puck drop 7:30
Saturday, October 24th @ Olds–puck drop 7:00
Okotoks Oilers (10-3-1)
The Oilers had their five game winning streak snapped last Friday in Camrose. Okotoks enters the weekend tied for first in the Viterra South Division as they set out on a three game northern road trip. The Oilers are 3-4 so far this season on the road and will look to keep pace are get some distance from Camrose, Brooks, and Canmore.
Upcoming schedule:
Friday, October 23rd @ Lloydminster—puck drop 7:30
Saturday, October 24th @ Sherwood Park—puck drop 7:00
Sunday, October 25th @ Drayton Valley—puck drop 2:30
Olds Grizzlys (4-9-1)
The Olds Grizzlys enter the weekend just one point behind the Calgary Mustangs for the final playoff spot in the Viterra South Division. The Grizzlys will only play one game this weekend, and it will be at home where the Grizz are 2-6 but will be hoping that their game against Drumheller will be the turnaround that the team has been waiting for.
Upcoming schedule:
Saturday, October 24th vs. Drumheller—puck drop 7:00
Tuesday, October 27th @ Calgary Canucks—puck drop 7:00