Photo Courtesy EGP Staff

By Tanner Smith

AJHL "disappointed, but not surprised"

BCHL welcomes five exiting AJHL teams for the remainder of the season

Feb 1, 2024 | 1:06 PM

The BCHL has finalized an agreement with the five exiting AJHL teams, the Blackfalds Bulldogs, the Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders and Spruce Grove Saints, to make them part of the BCHL, effective immediately.

With this move, the five teams will now play the remaining games of the season, as part of the BCHL, with an Alberta champion eventually being crowned.

Following the end of the BCHL playoffs, there will be an opportunity for the Alberta champion to then face off with the BCHL winner.

In a release, BCHL Commissioner Steven Cocker said, “With the unfortunate situation the Alberta teams have faced in recent weeks with having games cancelled in their previous league, it was imperative to us to get these players back on the ice in meaningful competition.”

“This five-team schedule and postseason will give these athletes the chance to get in a full set of games for the remainder of the year, which is the most important thing to us.”

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Graham Fraser, Chairman of the BCHL Board of Governors, added in the same release, “We are pleased to officially welcome these five franchises into the fold as members of our league. All five are strong organizations from great communities and we look forward to the immediate boost they will give our league.”

At this time, EverythingGP has reached out to the Grande Prairie Storm for a comment on this ongoing situation, but they have yet to reply.

Anyone interested in viewing the schedule for the 2023/2024 Alberta division of the BCHL, can click here.

The AJHL has released it’s own statement, following the five defecting clubs, joining the BCHL:

AJHL Statment: (Photo Courtesy AJHL)

The statement was highlighted with the AJHL saying they are “disappointed, but not surprised” with these five teams’ decision.

Still, the AJHL remains committed to the fans, communities, Alberta, and finishing their 60th anniversary season, with the remaining eleven teams.