2024–25 AJHL season
| 2024–25 AJHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | Alberta Junior Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | Pre-season August - September Regular season September - March Post-season March - April |
| Number of games | 54 |
| Number of teams | 12 |
The 2024–25 AJHL season is the 61st season of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). Competition will begin on 24 August 2024 with a 35-game exhibition season, followed by a 54-game regular season schedule which will run from 13 September 2024 to 15 March 2025. The Calgary Canucks will host the 2024 AJHL showcase as well as the 2025 Centennial Cup National Junior A championship tournament.
League changes
[edit]The league extended its pilot program of video goal review in select arenas that began in the 2023–24 season.[1][2]
The governing body, Hockey Canada, and its four western regional affiliates – BC Hockey, Hockey Alberta, Hockey Saskatchewan and Hockey Manitoba – will pilot the Western Canadian Development Model (WCDM). Under the WCDM, junior leagues will adopt most of the Western Hockey League rulebook, excluding some sections, and restrictions on 15-year-old affiliate players in the Western Hockey League will be loosened. Players that will be 18-years of age or older in the calendar year will be allowed to choose whether to use full-face protection or half-face protection, whilst younger players will be required to use full-face protection.[3]
The Devon Xtreme joined the league as an expansion team, bringing the total number of teams to 12.[4]
Similar to in years past, teams were organized into a North Division and a South Division.[5] The surprise mid-season departure of five teams during the 2023–24 season — namely the Sherwood Park Crusaders and Spruce Grove Saints from the North Division and the Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brooks Bandits and Okotoks Oilers from the South Division — led to the consolidation of what was left of the divisions into a single unit for the remainder of the season. The updated divisional structure for this season is as follows:[6][7]
Pre-season
[edit]A 35-game exhibition season ran from 24 August to 7 September 2024.[6][7]
Regular season
[edit]Teams will play six matches against each of the teams in their division and four matches against each of the teams in the other division. The regular season schedule will include the 12 games to be played in the 2024 AJHL Showcase. The showcase is an annual event that brings all of the teams to the host city to play in front of an audience of coaches and scouts from the NHL, CHL, and collegiate institutions.[6][7] It was the 18th annual showcase and it took place from 25–27 September 2024 in Calgary.[8][9]
Post-season
[edit]At the end of the regular season, the top 4 teams from each division will compete in the post-season for the league championship Inter Pipeline Cup. The format will consist of three play-off rounds. In the first and second rounds, teams will compete within their respective divisions. The winners in each round will be determined by a best-of-7 series, with the winners advancing to the next round, and the losers being eliminated from competition.[6][7] The 2025 Centennial Cup National Junior A Champsionship tournament will be hosted by the Calgary Canucks.[10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Hall, Josh (13 June 2024). "Alberta Junior Hockey League releases schedule for 2024/25". rdnewsnow.com. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ "AJHL hosts successful AGM in Canmore, AB". ajhl.ca. Alberta Junior Hockey League. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ Ewen, Steve (12 July 2024). "Feud for thought: Rivals Hockey Canada and BCHL provide duelling announcements". The Province. Postmedia. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ Giancola, Dillon (23 May 2024). "Devon gets new Junior A team, Kelly Buchberger named coach". Devon Dispatch. Postmedia. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ "AJHL Brings Back North and South Divisions". rivercountry.fm. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d "AJHL releases schedule for upcoming 2024-25 season". Red Deer Advocate. Black Press Media. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d "AJHL announces schedule for 2024-25 season". ajhl.ca. Alberta Junior Hockey League. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ Hartviksen, Galen (1 August 2024). "Olds Grizzlys Slated To Play Opening Game Of 2024-2025 AJHL Showcase In Calgary". My Mountain View Now. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ "AJHL showcase opens September 25th". ajhl.ca (Press release). Calgary, Alberta. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ Hartviksen, Galen (12 August 2024). "AJHL's Calgary Canucks Win Bid To Host 2025 Centennial Cup Tournament". My Mountain View Now. Retrieved 16 August 2024.