AJHL Announces Schedule for Round One of 2012 AJHL Playoffs

Press Release

The opening round of the 2012 AJHL Enerflex Cup Playoffs will begin on Thursday, February 23rd. The Alberta Junior Hockey League announced today the complete schedule for Round One of the 2012 AJHL Playoff s, which will include six divisional series.

The top seven teams in each division qualified for the 2012 AJHL Playoffs. The first place team in each division will receive a bye during Round One. The AJHL Regular Season Champion Brooks Bandits have captured the South Division and earned a bye. The Spruce Grove Saints have earned a first round bye in the North Division for a fourth consecutive year

All series in Round One are best-of-five with the highest ranked seed awarded home ice advantage. The teams will playoff as follows: 2nd versus 7th place, 3rd versus 6th place, and 4th versus 5th place.

AJHL South Division

Okotoks Oilers (2) vs. Drumheller Dragons (7)

Game 1 February 24, 2012 Okotoks 7:00 PM
Game 2 February 25, 2012 Okotoks 7:00 PM
Game 3 February 27, 2012 Drumheller 7:30 PM
*Game 4 February 28, 2012 Drumheller 7:30 PM
*Game 5 March 2, 2012 Okotoks 7:00 PM

Camrose Kodiaks (3) vs. Calgary Canucks (6)

Game 1 February 24, 2012 Camrose 7:30 PM
Game 2 February 25, 2012 Camrose 7:30 PM
Game 3 February 27, 2012 Calgary 7:30 PM
*Game 4 February 28, 2012 Calgary 7:30 PM
*Game 5 March 2, 2012 Camrose 7:30 PM

Calgary Mustangs (4) vs. Olds Grizzlys (5)

Game 1 February 23, 2012 Calgary 7:00 PM
Game 2 February 25, 2012 Calgary 2:30 PM
Game 3 February 27, 2012 Olds 7:30 PM
*Game 4 February 28, 2012 Olds 7:30 PM
*Game 5 March 1, 2012 Calgary 7:00 PM

AJHL North Division

Fort McMurray Oil Barons (2) vs. Grande Prairie Storm (7)

Game 1 February 25, 2012 Fort McMurray 8:00 PM
Game 2 February 26, 2012 Fort McMurray 8:00 PM
Game 3 February 28, 2012 Grande Prairie 7:30 PM
*Game 4 February 29, 2012 Grande Prairie 7:30 PM
*Game 5 March 3, 2012 Fort McMurray 8:00 PM

Lloydminster Bobcats (3) vs. Drayton Valley Thunder (6)

Game 1 February 25, 2012 Lloydminster 7:30 PM
Game 2 February 26, 2012 Lloydminster 2:00 PM
Game 3 February 28, 2012 Drayton Valley 7:30 PM
*Game 4 February 29, 2012 Drayton Valley 7:30 PM
*Game 5 March 3, 2012 Lloydminster 7:30 PM

Sherwood Park Crusaders (4) vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs (5)

Game 1 February 25, 2012 Sherwood Park 7:00 PM
Game 2 February 26, 2012 Sherwood Park 7:00 PM
Game 3 February 28, 2012 Bonnyville 7:00 PM
*Game 4 February 29, 2012 Bonnyville 7:00 PM
*Game 5 March 3, 2012 Sherwood Park 7:00 PM

* if necessary

Round Two: March 6th - March 18th
The first place team 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. (1 vs. 4 & 2 vs. 3)

Round Three: League Semi-Finals - March 23rd - April 3rd
The remaining two teams in each division will playoff for the title of Division Champion and advance to the League Final. (1 vs. 4 & 2 vs. 3)

Round Four: League Final - April 6th - April 16th
The North Division Champion and the South Division Champion will compete in the League Final for the 2012 AJHL Enerflex Cup.

The 2012 AJHL Playoff Schedule, Playoff Bracket, and head to head stats for each series are available on the AJHL website www.AJHL.ca. Watch each game of the 2012 AJHL Playoffs live on AJHL Pay Per View at www.AJHL.ca.

The Alberta Junior Hockey League will announce the 2012 League Award Winners on Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)