The Alberta Junior Hockey League doesn’t look a day over 50.
In fact, the junior A loop is aging rather gracefully, thank you very much.
Things are rolling as strong as ever as the league heads into its golden anniversary season.
Sixteen teams — including the reigning RBC Cup national champion Brooks Bandits — will begin a race for the title, starting Friday on seven fronts.
For new AJHL commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk, it’s a moment he’s been keenly waiting for since taking over as the boss last March, bumped up from his vice-president of marketing post to take over from Craig Cripps.
“Obviously, it was a busy but exciting start to the position,” said Bartoshyk, who got to play the role of proud papa as the Bandits claimed the national title later that spring.
“It was a great experience for myself,” added the former AJHL player, who spent 1998 to 2000 with the Bonnyville Pontiacs. “I think it validates our league a little bit and says, ‘hey, we have solid hockey.’
“It was an experience for me and an experience for the Brooks Bandits organization.”
Full Story from The Calgary Herald