Sixteen games will be played on AJHL ice this weekend that will see a number of interdivisional matchups.
Bonnyville Pontiacs (7-6-2) game Wednesday
The Bonnyville Pontiacs continue their busy week following a 4-3 overtime loss to the Brooks Bandits on Wednesday night. Thursday night they will be in Calgary to take on the Mustangs, it will be the first of two meetings between the two teams, puck drop on www.fasthockey.com is at 7:30. Saturday the Pontiacs will head west to take on the Canmore Eagles, September 27th the Pontiacs earned a 4-1 win over the Eagles, puck drop for Saturday's game will be at 7:00 on www.fasthockey.com. Bonnyville will wrap up their four game south road trip on Sunday in Okotoks. Sunday will be the first of two games between the Oilers and Pontiacs puck drop for Sunday's game will be at 4:15 on www.fasthockey.com. Dillan McCombie leads the Pontiacs with 17 points. Ryan Black has 13 assists while Mitch Fritz, Dillan McCombie and Luke Mahura lead the team with five goals. In goal, Joey Desrosiers is 5-2-1 with a 2.11 GAA and 0.917 save% while Reid Kilburn is 2-4-1 with a 2.69 GAA and 0.900 save% (Wednesday's games not included in stats).
Drayton Valley Thunder (7-6-1)
The Drayton Valley Thunder will play three times this weekend. Thursday the Thunder will host the Sherwood Park Crusaders. It's the third time this season that the two teams have met up; they have split the first two games where the road team has earned a shutout in both games. Puck drop between the Crusaders and Thunder will be at 7:30 on www.fasthockey.com. Saturday the Thunder hit the road to Drumheller then Sunday they will be in Calgary to take on the Mustangs. It will be the first time the Thunder have taken on the Dragons and Mustangs. Puck drop on Saturday will be at 7:30 while Sunday's game starts at 2:30, both games can be seen on www.fasthockey.com. Team leaders: Trevor Poirier leads the team with nine points. Brett Smythe and Trevor Poirier lead the team with six assists. Jason Miller leads the Thunder with six goals. In goal, Marc-Olivier Daigle is 4-5-1 with a 2.98 GAA and 0.916 save% while Garrett Mason is 3-1-0 with a 1.55 GAA and 0.948 save%.
Fort McMurray Oil Barons (9-7-2) @ Lloydminster Bobcats (8-6-1)
Fort McMurray will travel to Lloydminster for a pair of games against the Bobcats. It will be the third and fourth meeting of the season between the two teams. The Oil Barons beat the Bobcats 2-1 in SO on September 10th in Lloydminster. October 7th the Bobcats fell 4-3 in Fort McMurray to the Oil Barons. Both games on Friday and Saturday will start at 7:30 on www.fasthockey.com. The Oil Barons touting three players (Jetlan Houcher 23pts, Mitchell Vanderlaan 19pts, and Trent Lofthouse 16 pts) in the top 20 in league scoring. Between the pipes Zach Fortin is 5-4-2 with a 2.73 GAA and 0.924 save%, Jayden Sittler is 2-2 with a 3.04 GAA and 0.903 save%. For the Bobcats Troy Van Tetering leads the team with nine assists and 11 points, Taylor Mulder leads the team with six goals. In goal, Devin Green is 6-4-1 with a 2.14 GAA and 0.903 save% while Ryan Ternes is 2-2 with a 2.78 GAA and 0.879 save%.
Grande Prairie Storm (7-12-0)
Will play a pair of road games this weekend. Friday they will be in Whitecourt for the back half a home and home. It will be the third meeting of the season between the two teams with Grande Prairie picking up a pair of 4-3 overtime wins. Puck drop in Whitecourt will be at 7:30 on www.fasthockey.com. Saturday the Storm travel to Spruce Grove to take on the Saints. It will be the first of six meetings between the two teams. Jade McMullen leads the Storm with 14 goals and 21 points; he is also sixth in league scoring heading into the weekend. Ian McLellan leads the team with ten assists. In goal, Liam McLeod is 4-5 with a 3.63 GAA and 0.898 save% while Adam Beukeboom is 2-6 with a 3.40 GAA and 0.886 save%.
Sherwood Park Crusaders (10-7-1)
Sherwood Park will play two interdivisional games this weekend. Thursday they will be in Drayton Valley to take on the Thunder for the third time this year. The Crusaders shutout the Thunder 3-0 in their first visit to the Omniplex. Puck drop for Thursday's game will be at 7:30 on www.fasthockey.com. Sunday the Crusaders return home to battle the Spruce Grove Saints. It will be the third meeting of the season between the two teams. The road team has won both matchups this year. Sunday's game will start at 2:15 on www.fasthockey.com. Arthur Gordon leads the team with 14 points; he is also tied with Cole Gammer for the team lead in goals at six and Reid Bosse for the team lead in assists with eight. Between the pipes, Tommy Nixon is 7-1-1 with 2.37 GAA and 0.916 save% while Zac Klassen is 3-6 with a 2.65 GAA and 0.912 save %.
Spruce Grove Saints (12-4-2)
The Saints will also play a pair of interdivisional opponents this weekend. Saturday will be the first of six meetings with the Grande Prairie Storm, last year the Saints took four of six games from the Storm. Puck drop for Saturdays game in Spruce Grove will be at 7:00 on www.fasthockey.com. Sunday the Saints will be in Sherwood Park to battle the Crusaders. On September 12th the Saints defeated the Crusaders 3-1 in Sherwood Park, while dropping a 3-2 overtime decision to the Crusaders on September 13th. Puck drop for Sunday's game in Sherwood Park will be at 2:15 on www.fasthockey.com. Jarid Hauptman leads the team with 22 points and 18 assists, Hauptman is also tied for fourth in league scoring. Paul Lovsin leads the team with eight goals. In goal, Matthew Murray is 3-1-1 with a 2.04 GAA and 0.910 save% while Brett Zarowny is 3-1 with a 2.75 GAA and 0.898 save%.
Whitecourt Wolverines (4-10-3)
Whitecourt will host the back half of the home and home with the Grande Prairie Storm on Friday; puck drop for that game will be at 7:30 on www.fasthockey.com. Saturday the Wolverines hit the road to take on the Camrose Kodiaks. It will be the second of three meetings with two teams; September 25th the Kodiaks defeated the Wolverines 5-2 at showcase weekend. Puck drop for Saturday's game will be at 7:00 on www.fasthockey.com. Brandon Switzer leads the team with 15 points and eight assists, he is also tied for 14th in league scoring. John Mullally leads the team with eight goals. In goal, Tanner McCorriston is 6-5-1 with a 2.53 GAA and a 0.906 save% while Tallon Kramer is 1-3 with a 3.12 GAA and 0.899 save%.
Brooks Bandits (10-5-1)
Brooks has just one game this weekend, and it will take place on Saturday night in Olds. It will be the second of six meetings between the two teams; the Grizzlys topped the Bandits 5-4 on September 23rd. Puck drops for Saturday's game at 7:00 on www.fasthockey.com. The Bandits tout the top two scorers in the AJHL, Austin Plevy with 27 pts and Alex Roberts with 26 pts. Mark Logan is tied for 11th with 16 points. In goal, Josh Davies is 6-2 with a 2.48 GAA and 0.913 save% while Michael Fredrick hasn't been too much of a slouch sporting 4-3-1 record with a 2.72 GAA and 0.896 save%.
Calgary Canucks (7-8-2)
The Canucks will play just once this weekend. Friday night the Canucks will travel to Camrose to battle the Kodiaks on October 24th. It will be the third meeting of the season between the two clubs. The Kodiaks defeated the Canucks 5-2 and 3-0 in September. Puck drop for Friday's game will be at 7:00 on www.fasthockey.com. Trent Geiger leads the Canucks with 11 assists and 15 points. Colton Sheen leads the Canucks with six goals. Between the pipes, Colin Cooper is 5-6-2 with a 3.35 GAA and a 0.902 save% while Malcolm Walilko is 2-2 with a 3.22 GAA and 0.912 save%.
Calgary Mustangs (4-12-0)
The Mustangs will play a pair of home games against the north this weekend. Thursday they will host the Bonnyville Pontiacs if the first of two meetings between the two teams this year. Puck drop for Thursday's game will be at 7:30 on www.fasthockey.com. Sunday the Mustangs will host the Drayton Valley Thunder in the first of two meetings between the two teams. Puck drop on www.fasthockey.com will be at 2:30. Mason Mitchell and Phelan Shaw lead the team with nine points. Mitchell leads the team with eight goals, while Shaw leads the team with eight assists. In goal, Ravi Dattani is 4-11 with a 3.51 GAA and 0.916 save% while Matthew McDonald is 0-1 with a 4.73 GAA and 0.869 save%.
Camrose Kodiaks (12-1-2)
The Kodiaks will play a pair of home games this weekend. Friday they will host the Calgary Canucks in the third meeting of the season. The Kodiaks defeated the Canucks 5-2 on home ice on September 20th. Saturday the Canucks will host the Whitecourt Wolverines. It's the second meeting of the season between the two teams; Camrose earned a 5-2 win at showcase weekend. Both games will start at 7:00 on www.fasthockey.com. Ryker Leer leads the team with 15 points and 11 assists. Leer is tied for 14th in the AJHL scoring race. Nelson Gadoury leads the team with seven goals. The Kodiaks are lead in goal by Devin McDonald is 10-1-1 with a 1.57 GAA and 0.946 save%, Patrick Gora has been great as well sporting a 3-0-1 record with a 2.73 GAA and 0.895 save.
Canmore Eagles (8-7-0)
The Canmore Eagles will play a pair of games this weekend. Friday night they will travel to Okotoks to take on the Oilers. It will be the second meeting of the season between the two teams. On September 23rd they earned a 5-2 victory over the Oilers. Saturday night the Eagles will take on the Pontiacs for the second of three meetings between the two teams. The Pontiacs defeated the Eagles 4-1 at showcase weekend. Both games start at 7:00 and can be seen on www.fasthockey.com. Connor Wilson leads the team with 15 assists and 20 points; Wilson is seventh in the league in scoring. Jordan Revie and Ryley Risling are tied for the team lead with eight goals. In goal, Ryan Ferguson is 6-7 with a 3.15 GAA and 0.912 save% while Levi Nelson is 2-0 with a 3.50 GAA and 0.918 save%.
Drumheller Dragons (8-4-3)
The Dragons will play two games this weekend including a game in Hanna, Alberta on Thursday against the Olds Grizzlys. Thursday will be the second of six meetings between the two teams. The Grizzlys topped the Dragons earlier this month. Saturday night the Drayton Valley Thunder will come to town. Saturday will be the first of two meetings between the two teams. Puck drop for Thursday's game will be at 7:00. Saturday's game will be at 7:30 and can be seen on www.fasthockey.com. Mitchell Cook leads the team with 16 points, eight goals and eight assists, Dakota Zahaichuk also has eight assists. Cook is tied for 11th in league scoring. In goal, Curtis Skip is 6-4-1 with a 2.26 GAA and 0.923 save% while Jonny Hogue is 2-1-1 with a 3.21 GAA and 0.897 save%.
Okotoks Oilers (10-5-3)
The Oilers will play a pair of home games this weekend. Friday the Oilers will host the Canmore Eagles for the second of six meetings between the two teams this season. The Oilers dropped their first game against the Eagles last month. Puck drop will be at 7:00 and can be seen on www.fasthockey.com. Sunday the Oilers will welcome the Bonnyville Pontiacs to town for the first of two meetings between the two teams. Puck drop for Sunday's game will be at 4:15 and can be seen on www.fasthockey.com. Rhett Gardner and Mitch Collett lead the team with 15 points. Gardner leads the team with ten goals while Collett leads the team with 12 assists. Both Collett and Gardner are tied for 14th in league scoring. In goal, Nic Renyard is 8-0-1 with a 1.63 GAA and 0.946 save% while Riley Morris is 1-2 with a 3.18 GAA and 0.872 save%.
Olds Grizzlys (9-5-3)
The Grizzlys will play a pair of games this weekend. Everything gets going for the Grizzlys in Hanna, Alberta on Thursday night as they take on the Drumheller Dragons. Olds topped Drumheller 4-3 in a shootout on October 3rd. Thursday's game will be the second of six meetings between the two teams. Saturday the Grizzlys will welcome the Brooks Bandits to town. The Grizzlys earned a 5-4 win over the Bandits on September 23rd. Saturday's game can be seen on www.fasthockey.com starting at 7:00. Christopher Gerrie leads the Grizzlys with 12 goals, ten assists and 22 points. Gerrie is tied for 4th in league scoring. In goal, Jordan Piccolino is 7-4-3 with a 3.82 GAA and 0.880 save% while Billy Gorn is 2-1 with a 3.84 GAA with a 0.843 save%
Story by Chris Colwell
@Cjcolwell