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The Alberta Junior Hockey League has made over its agenda within the wake of a bomb-shell exodus by way of 5 of its groups.

With the Okotoks Oilers, the Brooks Bandits, the Blackfalds Bulldogs, the Spruce Grove Saints and the Sherwood Park Crusaders named in a BCHL document as becoming a member of that circuit for the 2024-25 puck season, the AJHL has determined to cancel video games involving the ones 5 golf equipment and the remainder 11 franchises.

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However …

“Out appreciate for the avid gamers at the 5 defecting groups, we can permit scheduled video games amongst those golf equipment to continue,” mentioned the AJHL in a commentary Thursday. “We’re responding by way of taking steps to give protection to the aggressive integrity of the AJHL and CJHL playoff gadget and to verify the protection of our avid gamers and officers.”

The surprising bolt final weekend of the 5 high-profile golf equipment had put each the provincial Junior A loop and Hockey Canada on excessive alert, with the previous opting to cancel all video games involving the ones groups indefinitely.

On the other hand, Thursday’s announcement brings extra readability to the AJHL calendar shifting ahead.

The 11 groups will end the agenda as a part of the league, whilst the ones ‘defecting groups’ is not going to however can be allowed to play sanctioned video games between every different.

“We’re running diligently with our companions — together with the Canadian Junior Hockey League, Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada — to discover a solution to this atypical state of affairs created by way of the 5 defecting groups and the BCHL and can supply additional updates as selections are made,” mentioned the commentary. “The AJHL’s said imaginative and prescient to create an atmosphere that conjures up consider and self belief amongst our organizations, athletes, enthusiasts, companions and stakeholders. We proceed to be the premier developmental league in Canada for student-athletes striving to capitalize on their athletic and educational skills. We’re disenchanted by way of the new announcement however sit up for offering our enthusiasts with extra thrilling AJHL hockey within the months and years forward.”

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In the meantime, Postmedia has discovered from league assets that the price for every of the 5 groups to sign up for as growth franchises within the BCHL is within the $1-million vary.

It’s believed the exodus wasn’t meant to be unveiled till Might, on the earliest.

A gag order is these days in position, maintaining the groups concerned from pronouncing anything else in regards to the subject to hand as opposed to to unencumber obscure information releases and be offering up the necessary ’no remark’ statements.

“Hockey Canada will proceed to paintings with Hockey Alberta, the Alberta Junior Hockey League and the Canadian Junior Hockey League to offer alternatives to soundly experience, broaden and compete in Canada’s sport in Alberta,” mentioned Hockey Canada in a commentary. “Hockey Canada and our Contributors are tasked with making sure that individuals of every age and skills can experience enjoying hockey in communities around the nation, each recreationally and competitively. 

‘Whilst we really feel strongly that our type for handing over hockey is to the convenience and protection of avid gamers, coaches, officers, folks, directors and volunteers, we acknowledge that others are unfastened to benefit from the sport out of doors of Hockey Canada-sanctioned techniques.”

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The transfer leaves 11 groups within the AJHL — sufficient to hold on into the longer term.

However the ones leaving, together with the reigning three-time league and nationwide champion Bandits, are strong-market golf equipment.

All have introduced swagger to Alberta’s junior hockey scene and feature been instrumental in sending loads of avid gamers onward to the school puck international.

In the meantime, the BCHL’s cut up from the Canadian Junior Hockey League final summer season, mentioning Hockey Canada’s regulations — particularly relating to recruiting rules — have been too restrictive and that it favoured the most important junior leagues, such because the WHL.

“In August 2023, Hockey Canada launched a record that clarifies 20 advantages to be had to individuals in Hockey Canada-sanctioned techniques and are both no longer supplied or no longer assured with non-sanctioned techniques, which all function with out being known by way of executive in Canada and aren’t ruled by way of the World Ice Hockey Federation,” mentioned Hockey Canada in a commentary previous this week.

The AJHL went forward and cancelled 4 video games Saturday and Sunday — all that includes a minimum of a type of 5 groups named by way of the BCHL to have damaged clear of the AJHL.

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The Saints and the Oilers did play Saturday anyway in Okotoks, with the host aspect prevailing 5-2.

And in Monday’s CJHL Most sensible 20 scores, the Bandits, the Crusaders and the Oilers owned the Nos. 2, 8 and 14 spots respectively — all with ‘AJHL’ indexed beside them.

With the Oilers’ go out comes the query of what’s now taking place with the 2025 Centennial Cup, the Canadian Junior Hockey League championship slated to be hosted by way of Okotoks?

The transfer — thereby chopping ties with Hockey Canada — way the coveted event to crown a countrywide junior champ gained’t most probably be performed within the Southern Alberta town.

The Oilers themselves don’t have any remark at the subject right now.

And the BCHL has long gone on document to mention extra main points are upcoming in a couple of weeks time.

tsaelhof@postmedia.com

www.twitter.com/ToddSaelhofPM

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