Alberta Junior Hockey League

Alberta Junior Hockey League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2017–18 AJHL season
Sport Ice hockey
Founded 1964
No. of teams 16
Country Canada
Most recent
champion(s)		 Spruce Grove Saints (5th)
Most titles Calgary Canucks (9)
Official website www.ajhl.ca/
Former logo of the AJHL, until 2006

The Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) is an Alberta-based Junior A ice hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. There are currently 16 teams in the league. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy. The playoff champions receive the Gas Drive Cup (the Carling O'Keefe trophy before 1998). The winner of the AJHL playoffs continues on to play in the Doyle Cup in a seven game series with the BCHL. The winner of the Doyle Cup competes in the Junior "A" National Championship for the Royal Bank Cup.

History

The early 1960s saw a much different junior hockey scenario in Alberta than what currently exists. The Edmonton Oil Kings were the only true Junior-A-calibre team in the province and drew most of the top talent Alberta had to offer. The Oil Kings were the Western Canadian champions from 1962 until 1966, Abbott Cup champions in 1954 and from 1960 to 1966, and Memorial Cup national champions in 1963 and 1966. In 1966, the Oil Kings helped create the Western Hockey League. The issue in 1964 was that there were hundreds of junior-calibre players in the province, but really only one team to play for. A group of business and hockey people got together in 1964 and decided to form a Junior "A" league in an attempt to truly develop Alberta hockey. The original league consisted of the Edmonton Safeway Canadians, the Edmonton Maple Leafs, the Lethbridge Sugar Kings, Calgary Cowboys, and the Calgary Buffaloes.

The Edmonton Safeway Canadians and Maple Leafs later merged in 1971 to become the Edmonton Mets, then moved to Spruce Grove to become the Spruce Grove Mets in 1974. They lasted only three seasons in Spruce Grove; however, they won the AJHL title twice, and the Manitoba Centennial Trophy in 1975. In 1976, they moved again to become the St. Albert Saints, where they won three more league titles. In 2004, the team returned to Spruce Grove as the Spruce Grove Saints. This well-travelled franchise has sent over 30 players into the National Hockey League, including Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier.[1]

One of the AJHL's most famous franchises, the Red Deer Rustlers, joined the league in 1967, capturing the championship in their first season. The Rustlers had attempted to join the Western Canada Junior Hockey League, but were blocked by the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association, and instead placed in the AJHL.[2] In 1971, the Rustlers captured the first Manitoba Centennial Trophy as national Junior A champions. The Rustlers, who featured all six Sutter brothers who would go on to the National Hockey League, won eight AJHL titles and two Centennial Trophies during their existence. They were expelled from the league, however, in 1989, and formally folded in 1992 when the Red Deer Rebels joined the WHL.[3]

In 1971, the Calgary Canucks were founded following the demise of the Cowboys and Buffaloes. Today, the Canucks are the oldest franchise still operating in the AJHL. It was founded with a mandate to focus on giving Calgary-area kids a place to play while focusing on their educational needs. The Canucks have captured a league record nine AJHL championships and won the Centennial Cup in 1995, the Canadian Championship of Junior A hockey, now known as the Royal Bank Cup.

After a game on February 21, 1980, the AJHL was shaken by a tragedy. Twenty-year-old Trevor Elton, Captain of the Sherwood Park Crusaders was hit cleanly along the boards by a player on the St. Albert Saints in St. Albert, Alberta. Elton landed and went into convulsions and died later that night while in hospital.[4]

On November 26, 2010, the Fort McMurray Oil Barons and Drayton Valley Thunder played the first ever modern era regulation outdoor junior hockey game at MacDonald Island in Fort McMurray. The game was known as the "Northern Classic".[5] The 5,000 tickets available for the game sold out in less than an hour, and consequently broke the league attendance record of 4,400.[6]

On May 2, 2012, the AJHL announced its approval of a request from the St. Albert Steel to relocate the team from St. Albert to Whitecourt to become the Whitecourt Wolverines.[7]

Current teams

North Division
Team City Arena Joined AJHL
Bonnyville Pontiacs Bonnyville, Alberta R. J. Lalonde Arena 1991
Drayton Valley Thunder Drayton Valley, Alberta Drayton Valley Omni-Plex 1998
Fort McMurray Oil Barons Fort McMurray, Alberta Casman Centre 1981
Grande Prairie Storm Grande Prairie, Alberta Revolution Place 1995
Lloydminster Bobcats Lloydminster, Saskatchewan Centennial Civic Centre 1988 (founded in 1982 in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League)
Sherwood Park Crusaders Sherwood Park, Alberta Sherwood Park Arena 1976
Spruce Grove Saints Spruce Grove, Alberta Grant Fuhr Arena 2004 (as Spruce Grove Saints, originally joined in 1963 as Edmonton Movers)
Whitecourt Wolverines Whitecourt, Alberta Scott Safety Centre 2012 (as Whitecourt Wolverines, originally joined in 1976 as Fort Saskatchewan Traders)
South Division
Team City Arena Joined AJHL
Brooks Bandits Brooks, Alberta Centennial Regional Arena 2000
Calgary Canucks Calgary, Alberta Max Bell Centre 1971
Calgary Mustangs Calgary, Alberta Father David Bauer Olympic Arena 2010 (as Calgary Mustangs, originally joined in 1972 as The Pass Red Devils)
Camrose Kodiaks Camrose, Alberta Encana Arena 1997
Canmore Eagles Canmore, Alberta Canmore Recreation Centre 2001 (as Canmore Eagles, originally joined in 1995 as Bow Valley Eagles)
Drumheller Dragons Drumheller, Alberta Drumheller Memorial Arena 2003
Okotoks Oilers Okotoks, Alberta Foothills Centennial Arena 2005 (as Okotoks Oilers, originally joined in 1998 as Crowsnest Pass Timberwolves)
Olds Grizzlys Olds, Alberta Olds & District Sports Complex 1981 (as Olds Grizzlys, originally joined in 1974 as Taber Golden Suns)

Royal Bank Cup champions

Eight AJHL teams have captured the Royal Bank Cup, or its predecessor, the Manitoba Centennial Trophy, as Canadian national champions since the tournament was introduced in 1971:

  • 2013: Brooks Bandits
  • 2001: Camrose Kodiaks
  • 2000: Fort McMurray Oil Barons
  • 1995: Calgary Canucks
  • 1994: Olds Grizzlys
  • 1980: Red Deer Rustlers
  • 1975: Spruce Grove Mets
  • 1971: Red Deer Rustlers

Playoff champions

Locations of AJHL teams (North Division teams in red; South Division teams in blue)
For the Pacific Regional playoffs, see Doyle Cup.
  • Carling O'Keefe Cup was presented 1965–1997
  • Rogers Wireless Cup presented since 1997

Please note: In chart, league champions are bolded.

Year League Champion League Runner-up
Memorial Cup Era
1965Calgary BuffaloesCalgary Cowboys
1966Calgary BuffaloesEdmonton Canadians
1967Edmonton Western Movers
1968Edmonton Western Movers
1969Lethbridge Sugar Kings
1970Red Deer Rustlers
Centennial Cup Era
1971Red Deer RustlersLethbridge Sugar Kings
1972Red Deer RustlersCalgary Canucks
1973Calgary CanucksRed Deer Rustlers
1974Red Deer RustlersThe Pass Red Devils
1975Spruce Grove MetsDrumheller Falcons
1976Spruce Grove MetsTaber Golden Suns
1977Calgary CanucksTaber Golden Suns
1978Calgary CanucksFort Saskatchewan Traders
1979Fort Saskatchewan TradersCalgary Canucks
1980Red Deer RustlersCalgary Canucks
1981St. Albert SaintsTaber Golden Suns
1982St. Albert SaintsCalgary Spurs
1983Calgary CanucksFort McMurray Oil Barons
1984Fort Saskatchewan TradersRed Deer Rustlers
1985Red Deer RustlersSherwood Park Crusaders
1986Calgary CanucksSherwood Park Crusaders
1987Red Deer RustlersSt. Albert Saints
1988Calgary CanucksSt. Albert Saints
1989Red Deer RustlersFort Saskatchewan Traders
1990Calgary CanucksSherwood Park Crusaders
1991Calgary RoyalsFort Saskatchewan Traders
1992Olds GrizzlysFort McMurray Oil Barons
1993Olds GrizzlysFort Saskatchewan Traders
1994Olds GrizzlysFort McMurray Oil Barons
1995Calgary CanucksOlds Grizzlys
1996St. Albert SaintsFort McMurray Oil Barons
1997Fort McMurray Oil BaronsCalgary Canucks
1998St. Albert SaintsFort Saskatchewan Traders
1999Calgary CanucksSt. Albert Saints
2000Fort McMurray Oil BaronsCamrose Kodiaks
2001Camrose KodiaksDrayton Valley Thunder
2002Drayton Valley ThunderGrande Prairie Storm
2003Camrose KodiaksSt. Albert Saints
2004Grande Prairie StormFort McMurray Oil Barons
2005Camrose KodiaksFort McMurray Oil Barons
2006Fort McMurray Oil BaronsCamrose Kodiaks
2007Camrose KodiaksFort Saskatchewan Traders
2008Camrose KodiaksFort McMurray Oil Barons
2009Grande Prairie StormSpruce Grove Saints
2010Spruce Grove SaintsFort McMurray Oil Barons
2011Spruce Grove SaintsCamrose Kodiaks
2012Brooks BanditsFort McMurray Oil Barons
2013Brooks BanditsSpruce Grove Saints
2014Spruce Grove SaintsDrumheller Dragons
2015Spruce Grove SaintsBrooks Bandits
2016Brooks BanditsSpruce Grove Saints
2017Brooks BanditsWhitecourt Wolverines
2018Spruce Grove SaintsOkotoks Oilers

Timeline of teams in the AJHL

NHL alumni

As of 2006, nearly 200 AJHL grads have gone on to play in the National Hockey League.[1] Among them:

References

  1. 1 2 AJHL Annual Guide & Record Book 2006–07, pg. 98
  2. ↑ AJHL history—1960s Archived 2006-04-22 at the Wayback Machine., ajhl.ca
  3. ↑ AJHL history—1980s Archived 2006-04-22 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Junior player dies after game. Regina Leader-Post, February 21, 1980, Pg. 20.
  5. ↑ "{title}". Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
  6. ↑ "Junior outdoor hockey game tickets a hot sell". Calgary Herald. 2010-11-03. Retrieved 2010-11-03.
  7. ↑ "AJHL Moving to Whitecourt, Alberta". Alberta Junior Hockey League. 2012-05-02. Archived from the original on 2012-05-11. Retrieved 2012-05-03.
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