Hockey League Imposes Suspensions on 100+ Players in Groundbreaking Decision
The current plan for 5 Alberta Junior-A teams to leave for BC has lead to controversy between the league and it's teams.
AJHL Releases Statement On Departing Members
The Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) released a statement after 5 current teams of the league announced plans to make the move to the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) for the 2024-25 season.
In their statement, the AJHL announces they will be canceling all upcoming games for the 5 teams planning to leave the league, with games continuing to be counted for the remaining clubs.
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We continue to evaluate the best path forward after reviewing Saturday's BCHL announcement that five of our
teams have decided, in the middle of our current season, to leave the AJHL to play unsanctioned hockey beginning in the 2024-25 season.
We are responding by taking steps to protect the competitive integrity of the AJHL and CJHL playoff system and to ensure the safety of our players and officials. To this end, until further notice, we have cancelled all upcoming games scheduled to be played between these five defecting teams and the remaining eleven teams at the core of our league. Games previously scheduled among these eleven teams will continue as scheduled. Out of respect for the players on the five defecting teams, we will allow scheduled games among these clubs to proceed.
We are working diligently with our partners - including the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada - to find a resolution to this unusual situation created by the five defecting teams and the BCHL and will provide further updates as decisions are made.
teams have decided, in the middle of our current season, to leave the AJHL to play unsanctioned hockey beginning in the 2024-25 season.
We are responding by taking steps to protect the competitive integrity of the AJHL and CJHL playoff system and to ensure the safety of our players and officials. To this end, until further notice, we have cancelled all upcoming games scheduled to be played between these five defecting teams and the remaining eleven teams at the core of our league. Games previously scheduled among these eleven teams will continue as scheduled. Out of respect for the players on the five defecting teams, we will allow scheduled games among these clubs to proceed.
We are working diligently with our partners - including the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada - to find a resolution to this unusual situation created by the five defecting teams and the BCHL and will provide further updates as decisions are made.
The BCHL, which became an independent 'Junior A' league after separating from Hockey Canada, announced the expansion plans for the 5 Alberta teams starting in 2024-25. The five teams include the Brooks Bandits, the former team of Colorado Avalanche superstar Cale Makar. The team was also the only AJHL team to have players selected in the 2023 NHL Draft, with 3 Bandits selected.
Also leaving the AJHL for the BCHL along with the Bandits are the Blackfalds Bulldogs, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders, and the Spruce Grove Saints.
| POLL | ||
25 JANVIER | 290 ANSWERS Hockey League Imposes Suspensions on 100+ Players in Groundbreaking Decision Should there be a merger of the two Junior A leagues? | ||
| Yes | 176 | 60.7 % |
| No | 114 | 39.3 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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