AJHL releases 09-10 Schedule

Press Release

Calgary, AB, June 29, 2009 - The Alberta Junior Hockey League announced today the League Schedule for the 2009-2010 AJHL Regular Season and 2009 Exhibition Season. The 2009-2010 AJHL Regular Season Schedule will consist of 16 teams playing an unbalanced schedule of 60 games apiece beginning on Friday, September 11th, 2009. The AJHL Board of Governors voted to remove two regular season games from the League Schedule for the upcoming season.

The 2009 Exhibition Season will begin on August 25th, 2009 with the first of 43 pre-season games, which will be played against opponents from the AJHL and British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). The Spruce Grove Saints, Sherwood Park Crusaders and St. Albert Steel will host a four team pre-season tournament from September 4th – 6th in their respective arenas, with a Tournament Champion crowned on September 6th.

The AJHL will hold the 3rd Annual AJHL Showcase Weekend from October 1st – 3rd, 2009. Each AJHL team will participate in two regular season games. A location for the 2009 AJHL Showcase will be announced shortly. The 2010 AJHL All-Star Weekend and Semi-Annual Meeting will be hosted by the Fort McMurray Oil Barons in Fort McMurray, Alberta on January 29th & 30th, 2010. All 16 AJHL Teams will once again participate in a Family Day game and Family Day events across the province on Monday, February 15th, 2010 in celebration of the provincial holiday.

The Alberta Junior Hockey League will continue with the same Playoff format as used in the 2009 AJHL Playoffs, however, in 2010 the AJHL will grant home ice advantage to the Division Champions throughout the AJHL Playoffs regardless of point totals.

The 16 member teams will battle for the 2010 Enerflex Cup during the 2010 AJHL Enerflex Cup Playoffs beginning on February 25th, 2010:

Round 1 - February 25 – March 4, 2010

Round 2 - March 6 – 17, 2010

Round 3 - March 20 – 30, 2010

AJHL League Final - April 2 -13, 2010

The 2010 Doyle Cup will be held from April 16th – 25th, 2010 commencing in Alberta. The 2010 RBC Cup National Junior A Championship is scheduled for May 1st – 9th, 2010 in Dauphin, Manitoba.

In addition to the AJHL schedule of events, select players will have the opportunity to participate in Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) events. The CJHL in conjunction with Hockey Canada will host the 2009 World Junior A Challenge in Summerside, P.E.I. from November 1st – 8th, 2009. The WJAC was created to showcase the talent in Canada’s 10 Junior A leagues.

The 2009 CJHL Prospects Game will be held on December 7th -9th, 2009 in Winkler, Manitoba. The CJHL Prospects Game features players from the CJHL’s five Western leagues competing against the best players from the five Eastern leagues.

The Alberta Junior Hockey League is entering its 46th season. The complete 2009-2010 Regular Season Schedule and 2009 Exhibition Schedules are available on the AJHL Website www.AJHL.ca. All games are subject to change.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)