The Lloydminster Bobcats will advance to Round Two against the North Division Champion Spruce Grove Saints. The Bobcats defeated the Grande Prairie Storm 5-1 tonight in game five of the best-of-five series. The home team had been victorious in each of the four games within the series prior to tonight’s Bobcat road victory.
The Bobcats had goals from five different players, the game winner was scored by Kyle Bowen. AJHL MVP Tanner Fritz and Mitch Fillman of the Storm led the series in points with 6. Fritz leads all playoff scorers with 3 powerplay goals.
In the other North Division series, The Fort McMurray Oil Barons (2) will playoff against the Bonnyville Pontiacs (3). The South Division Semi-Finals will match up the Division Champion Okotoks Oilers (1) versus the Calgary Mustangs (4) and the Brooks Bandits (2) versus the RBC Cup Host Camrose Kodiaks (3).
The Okotoks Oilers will re-enter the playoff schedule after receiving a first round bye as the South Division Champions in the regular season. The Spruce Grove Saints also earned a bye in Round One as the North Division Champions.
The second round in the 2011 AJHL Enerflex Cup Playoffs opens on March 5th in the South Division and March 6th in the North Division. Round Two is a best-of-seven series with the highest placed seed from the Regular Season earning home ice advantage.
March 1, 2011
The Lloydminster Bobcats and Grande Prairie Storm will take their first round playoff series to the limit after a 5-1 Bobcats win tied the series at two tonight. Game Five in the best-of-five series will be played on Thursday, March 3rd in Grande Prairie. Monday night’s 3 – 2 win over the Storm brought the Bobcats back from the brink of elimination in Game Three. The winner of the series will meet the North Division Champion Spruce Grove Saints in Round Two.
In the other North Division series, the Fort McMurray Oil Barons (2) will playoff against the Bonnyville Pontiacs (3) in Round Two. The South Division Semi-Finals will match up the Division Champion Okotoks Oilers (1) versus the Calgary Mustangs (4) and the Brooks Bandits (2) versus the RBC Cup Host Camrose Kodiaks (3).
The South Division will kick off Round Two on March 5th; the North Division Series will begin March 6th.
February 28, 2011
Fort McMurray, Bonnyville and Camrose are celebrating wins tonight, as they move on to Round Two in the 2011 AJHL Playoffs.
The Fort McMurray Oil Barons dominated the St. Albert Steel by a score of 13-2 to sweep the series. Justin Rose (Oil Barons) scored a hat trick and 5 points including the game winning goal. The Oil Barons put up 56 shots on goal. Oil Barons defenceman Brock Maschmeyer leads the AJHL Playoff Scoring Race with 8 points. Shawn Proulx scored both goals for the Steel.
The Bonnyville Pontiacs defeated Sherwood Park 5-2 in Game Three of the best of five series. Tyler Henry scored the unassisted game winner while short-handed. The Pontiacs will now meet the Oil Barons in Round Two.
The North Division series between the Grande Prairie Storm and Lloydminster Bobcats is the only active series remaining in Round One. The Storm lead the series 2-1 after falling to the Bobcats 3-2 on Monday. Game Four will go on Tuesday in Lloydminster.
The Camrose Kodiaks wrapped up the First Round Divisional Playoffs for the South Division. The Kodiaks eliminated the Dragons with a 6-2 victory in Game Four. Cole Wilson scored 2 goals including the game winning goal for the Kodiaks. Luke Challier posted a 3 point game for Camrose. The Kodiaks will now advance to Round Two against the Brooks Bandits.
February 27, 2011
The Brooks Bandits and Calgary Mustangs have eliminated their first round opponents with a 3-0 series victory. The Bandits and Mustangs will move on to the Divisional Semi-Finals and welcome the South Division leaders, the Okotoks Oilers, into the post-season after a bye in Round One.
Brooks defeated the Canmore Eagles 3-1, led by RJ Reed who scored 2 goals including the game winner. The Mustangs exploded offensively with 20 goals over the three game series versus the Olds Grizzlys and wrapped up game three with a 7-1 win. Tyler Eskesen (Mustangs) is tied with Bandits forward Matt Wilkins for the lead in the Playoff Scoring Race. Eskesen recorded a 4 point night for a total of 6 points in the post season. Daniel Donnachie had 2 goals in the Mustangs victory.
The Camrose Kodiaks scored three powerplay goals to win 3-1 over the Dragons this afternoon. The Kodiaks lead the series 2-1 with Game Four in Drumheller on Monday. Kodiaks Captain Clayton Jardine was the Player of the Game with an assist and the game winning goal. Tyler Jewitt also recorded 2 points in the win.
The North Division playoffs will continue on Monday with all three series on the brink of elimination. The Pontiacs, Storm and Oil Barons lead their respective series 2-0 heading into Game Three of the best-of-five series.
February 26, 2011
The Pontiacs, Storm, Oil Barons and Mustangs each have a chance to end their respective best-of-five series following tonight’s wins.
The Fort McMurray Oil Barons registered 68 shots on goal during a 7-1 victory over the St. Albert Steel. Oil Barons teammates Brock Maschmeyer and Markus Gerbrandt each recorded a 3 point night. Bonnyville Pontiacs forward Jake Towriss scored his first AJHL hat trick and the game winning goal in a 5-2 win against the Sherwood Park Crusaders. Mitch Neumier of the Grade Prairie Storm led the Storm to a 6-2 victory over the Lloydminster Bobcats with 3 goals and 4 points while picking up the Player of the Game Award. Game three in all North Division series will be played on Monday.
The Calgary Mustangs won 6-2 in an afternoon match up with the Olds Grizzlys and now lead the best-of-five series 2-0. Player of the Game Jarett Zentner scored two goals including the game winner. Game Three in the series will be played on Sunday. The Brooks Bandits will also have a chance to end their series with the Canmore Eagles on Sunday. The Drumheller Dragons and Camrose Kodiaks are tied a one win apiece and play Game Three and Game Four in Drumheller on Sunday / Monday.
AJHL President Craig T. Cripps presented three League Awards prior to Saturday night’s playoff game in Bonnyville. Julien Laplante (Top Goaltender) Kevin Carthy (Most Dedicated Player) and Chad Mercier (Coach of the Year):
February 25, 2011
Night two of the 2011 AJHL Playoffs was also opening night for the three North Division Series.
In the North, Grande Prairie, Bonnyville and Fort McMurray all secured a home ice win and now lead their respective series 1-0. The Oil Barons outscored the Steel 5-1 with goals from five different players. Steel goaltender Rhys Hadfield faced 49 shots in the St. Albert net. Bonnyville’s Ryan Kearns scored the OT winner for the hometown crowd in a 3-2 victory over the Crusaders. Storm Goaltender Andy Williams posted a shutout over the Bobcats to start the 2011 post season. AJHL MVP Tanner Fritz and teammate Dan Correale each recorded 3 points in the 4-0 Storm win.
The Camrose Kodiaks tied the best of five series with the Drumheller Dragons at one with a convincing 6-1 win. Ben Gallacher and Tyler Jewitt tallied 3 points apiece for the Kodiaks. The Brooks Bandits moved ahead to a 2-0 series lead over the Canmore Eagles in a 5-2 victory. Bandits forwards Riley Simpson and Matt Wilkins posted a 4 point game and lead the League Scoring Race for the 2011 Playoffs.
All North Division Series will continue with Game Two on Saturday night, while Game Two in the Calgary Mustangs / Olds Grizzlys series will be played at 2:45PM.
League President Craig T. Cripps awarded Adam Johnson with the Enerflex Cup Scholarship and AJHL Vice President Ryan Bartoshyk presented Tanner Fritz with the League MVP Award prior to tonight’s games.
February 24, 2011
Game One in the opening round of the 2011 AJHL Enerflex Cup Playoffs saw the Brooks Bandits, Drumheller Dragons and Calgary Mustangs all earn the first “W” in the series.
The Brooks Bandits were successful on offence with 6 goals, including 4 powerplay goals, to defeat the Canmore Eagles 6-2. AJHL Rookie of the Year, Cole Cheveldave, recorded his first shutout of the post-season with a 2- 0 Dragons victory over the Camrose Kodiaks. Calgary Mustangs rookie Chase McMurphy led the Mustangs in a highly offensive win over the Olds Grizzlys. McMurphy scored 2 goals and 1 assist in a 7-2 Mustangs victory.
Game Two of the series between the Kodiaks / Dragons and Bandits / Eagles will go on Friday night along with Game One in all three North Division series.