A strong performance from the Canmore Eagles on Monday night has the team heading to the next round of the AJHL playoffs. Canmore scored a 6-1 victory over the hometown Drumheller Dragons and gave the Eagles a 3-1 series win in the best-of-five South Division matchup.
It marks the first time the Eagles have advanced to the second round since 2014. Canmore, who finished fourth in the South during the regular season, will now take on the regular season South Division champion Brooks Bandits, who had a first-round bye after putting together a 100-point season. The best-of-seven series marks the first time the Eagles and Bandits will meet since a first round series in 2011, which the Bandits won in three games.
The Brooks versus Canmore series will start Friday, with the first two games in Brooks. The Bandits won five of six meetings during the 2015-2016 regular season, outscoring Canmore 32-12.
The Sherwood Park Crusaders dominated the Bonnyville Pontiacs in Game 4 of the series to win 7-1 and advance to Round Two of the 2016 Gas Drive AJHL Playoffs. Defenceman Chris McKay recorded a hat trick to lead the Crusaders to victory.
The 5th placed Crusaders will now face the Spruce Grove Saints who earned a first round bye as the Regular Season Champions. This is the 3rd straight year that the two teams will meet in the Division Semi-Final, all of which the Saints have won.