Sunday, March 3, 2013

2013 AJHL Gas Drive Playoffs Begin March 4th

Press Release

 The 2013 AJHL Gas Drive Playoffs will begin on Monday, March 4th in Whitecourt, Alberta.  The remainder of the North Division will kick off the post season with a best-of-five Round One series on March 5th.  The AJHL South Division will begin the following day on Wednesday, March 6th.

The top seven teams in each division qualified for the 2013 AJHL Playoffs.  The Spruce Grove Saints have earned a first round bye in the North Division for a fifth consecutive season.  The AJHL Regular Season Champion Brooks Bandits have captured the South Division and earned a bye for the second straight year

The highest ranked seed is awarded home ice advantage in the opening round of the 2013 playoffs.  The teams will playoff as follows: 2nd versus 7th place, 3rd versus 6th place, and 4th versus 5th place. 

Grande Prairie Storm (2) vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders (7)
Game 1 March 5, 2013 @ Grande Prairie 7:30 PM
Game 2 March 6, 2013 @ Grande Prairie 7:30 PM
Game 3 March 8, 2013 @ Sherwood Park 7:00 PM
Game 4 March 9, 2013 @ Sherwood Park 7:00 PM*
Game 5 March 11, 2013 @ Grande Prairie 7:30 PM*

Bonnyville Pontiacs (3) vs. Drayton Valley Thunder (6)
Game 1 March 5, 2013 @ Bonnyville 7:00 PM
Game 2 March 6, 2013 @ Bonnyville 7:00 PM
Game 3 March 8, 2013 @ Drayton Valley 7:30 PM
Game 4 March 9, 2013 @ Drayton Valley 7:30 PM*
Game 5 March 11, 2013 @ Bonnyville 7:00 PM*

Whitecourt Wolverines (4) vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (5)
Game 1 March 4, 2013 @ Whitecourt 7:30 PM
Game 2 March 5, 2013 @ Whitecourt 7:30 PM
Game 3 March 8, 2013 @ Fort McMurray 8:00 PM
Game 4 March 9, 2013 @ Fort McMurray 8:00 PM*
Game 5 March 11, 2013 @ Whitecourt 7:30 PM*

* if necessary

Round Two:
The first place team in each division at the completion of the regular season will receive a bye to Round Two of the AJHL Playoffs.  The first place team in each division will play the lowest place team remaining in their division and the next highest placed team will play the other team in a best-of-seven series.

Round Three: League Semi-Finals
The remaining two teams in each division will playoff for the title of Division Champion and advance to the 2013 AJHL Gas Drive Cup Final.

Round Four - AJHL Gas Drive Cup: League Final
The North Division Champion and the South Division Champion will compete in the League Final for the 2013 AJHL Gas Drive Cup.

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.

Watch the AJHL website for several special announcements over the coming days as the league will announce a new AJHL Commissioner and Staff Structure on Monday, March 4th and the 2013 League Award Winners on Tuesday, March 5th.

(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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