Grande Prairie Storm in Development Season action against the Bonnyville Pontiacs in November 2020. Photo Credit: Shane Clausing

By Shane Clausing

gp storm

AJHL announces first slate of schedule, Storm to resume season March 13

Mar 1, 2021 | 5:13 PM

The Grande Prairie Storm will return to the ice starting on March 13, as the AJHL announced on Monday the first slate of their remaining regular-season schedule.

Throughout the league, a total of 52 games are scheduled to be played on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from March 12 to April 4.

During this time, the AJHL’s teams will be split into five separate cohorts:

• Cohort #1 – Calgary Canucks, Okotoks Oilers, Brooks Bandits
• Cohort #2 – Drumheller Dragons, Olds Grizzlys, Camrose Kodiaks
• Cohort #3 – Sherwood Park Crusaders, Bonnyville Pontiacs
• Cohort #4 – Spruce Grove Saints, Fort McMurray Oil Barons
• Cohort #5 – Drayton Valley Thunder, Whitecourt Wolverines, Grande Prairie Storm

The Lloydminister Bobcats and Canmore Eagles will not participate in the remainder of the season.

Each team in each cohort will play each other until April 4. Once April 4 hits, the league will take a quick break and change the cohort groups and continue playing in April.

To start the season, the Storm will hit the road and play games in Drayton Valley and Whitecourt on March 13 & 14. The club will return home on March 20 and host the Thunder.

You can find the full schedule at the Storms website.

For the time being, spectators won’t be allowed inside the buildings for games due to provincial health restrictions. All AJHL games throughout the season will be broadcast on HockeyTV.

The AJHL also announced on Monday that there have been zero positive COVID-19 tests since players began to isolate in their home markets.

New this season, all AJHL teams will have to receive a PCR COVID-19 test weekly. At anytime a player or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 during the season, the entire team must self-isolate for 14 days.