The Brooks Bandits and Spruce Grove Saints have captured their respective division titles and will now compete for the 2013 AJHL Gas Drive Cup. The League Final series will begin in Brooks on Friday, April 12th and Saturday, April 13th before moving to Spruce Grove on Monday, April 15th.The Bandits and Saints both finished the regular season on top of their division. Brooks earned a first round bye in the 2013 AJHL Gas Drive Playoffs for the second straight year as Regular Season Champions. The Bandits posted a regular season record of 53-4-3 and 109 points. The Spruce Grove Saints earned a first round bye in the North Division for a fifth consecutive season, with 79 points and a regular season record of 35-16-9.
Spruce Grove opened the playoffs by eliminating the Sherwood Park Crusaders in Round Two. The Saints then defeated the Whitecourt Wolverines in the North Division Final. Brooks was victorious over the Drumheller Dragons to earn their spot in the South Division Final. The Bandits battled the Okotoks Oilers in a seven game series to claim the South Division Title and advance to the League Final.
The Bandits and Saints have not met since October 2012, during which time they faced each other twice in the same month. The Bandits won both contests, including a 3-1 win in Spruce Grove on October 20th and a 5-3 victory in Brooks on October 27th.
The Brooks Bandits are the defending AJHL Champions after claiming their first League Championship in 2012. The Saints have competed in the League Final in four of the last five seasons, excluding 2012, and last captured the League Championship in 2011.
Brooks Bandits (1) vs. Spruce Grove Saints (2)
Game 1 Brooks 3 Spruce Grove 2 OT
Game 2 Brooks 5 Spruce Grove 1
Game 3 April 15, 2013 @ Spruce Grove 7:00PM
Game 4 April 17, 2013 @ Spruce Grove 7:00PM
Game 5 April 19, 2013 @ Brooks 7:00PM*
Game 6 April 21, 2013 @ Spruce Grove 7:00PM*
Game 7 April 23, 2013 @Brooks 7:00PM*
* if necessary
Round Four – AJHL Gas Drive Cup
The North Division Champion and the South Division Champion will compete in the League Final for the 2013 AJHL Gas Drive Cup. The League Champion will advance to the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup for a chance to represent the West at the 2013 RBC Cup National Junior A Championship.
Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup
The 2013 Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup will be held from April 26 – May 5, 2013 at the Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo, BC and hosted by the Nanaimo Clippers and the BCHL. The champions of the British Columbia Hockey League, Alberta Junior Hockey League, Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, and Manitoba Junior Hockey League will participate in a five-team tournament with the host Nanaimo Clippers for the 2013 Western Canada Cup at the inaugural event. The Western Canada Cup Champion and the runner-up will both represent western Canada at the RBC Cup National Junior A Championship from May 11 – 19, 2013.
The 2013 AJHL Playoff Schedule, Playoff Bracket, and head to head stats for each series are available on the AJHL website. Watch each game of the 2013 AJHL Gas Drive Playoffs LIVE on AJHL Web TV at www.AJHL.ca.
