The Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) have made another statement following the announcement that five teams have decided to join the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) over the weekend. These teams that have decided to join the BCHL for the 2024-2025 season include the Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders, and the Spruce Grove Saints.  

The announcement includes some game cancellations for the league.  

Here’s the statement from the AJHL: 

“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 2024-2025 season.  

We are responding by taking steps to protect the competitive integrity of the AJHL and CKHL 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. 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 AJHL’s Stated vision is to create an environment that inspires trust and confidence among our organizations, athletes, fans, partners, and stakeholders. We continue to be the premier developmental league in Canada for student-athletes striving to capitalize on their athletic and academic abilities. We are disappointed by the recent announcement but look forward to providing our fans with more exciting AJHL hockey in the months and years ahead.” 

 

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