Five AJHL teams are denying that they have an agreement in place to leave the Alberta Junior Hockey League. (CHAT News Today)

By Brian Konrad (CHAT News Today) and Josh Hall (rdnewsNOW)

AJHL SEEKING CLARIFICATION

Five AJHL teams deny agreements to join BCHL

Jan 26, 2024 | 9:28 AM

The Brooks Bandits, Blackfalds Bulldogs, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders and Spruce Grove Saints are jointly denying that they have entered into any agreements to leave the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).

In social media posts late Thursday, January 25, the teams say they have full intentions of fulfilling their commitments for the remainder of this season, and disagree with a decision by the AJHL to cancel games.

They also say, “We have not entered into any agreement to leave any of those organizations, nor have we made any announcement to that effect.”

In a statement on Jan. 20, the BCHL appeared to confirm social media reports of the teams leaving, saying, “The British Columbia Hockey League has announced that it has come to terms with five Alberta-based teams to join the league for the 2024-25 season. The teams that have committed to terms include, the Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders and Spruce Grove Saints.”

The latest also comes just a day after the AJHL announced more game cancellations.

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The AJHL (which also commented today; see below) said yesterday the five teams can continue to play games amongst each other, but not against any other AJHL clubs.

Full Jan. 25 statement:

On Friday morning, Hockey Canada issued the following statement to rdnewsNOW:

“Hockey Canada will continue to work with Hockey Alberta, the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) and the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) to provide opportunities to safely enjoy, develop and compete in Canada’s game in Alberta.

Hockey Canada and its Members are tasked with ensuring that participants of all ages and abilities can enjoy playing hockey in communities across the country, both recreationally and competitively. While we feel strongly that our model for delivering hockey is to the benefit and safety of players, coaches, officials, parents, administrators and volunteers, we recognize that others are free to enjoy the game outside of Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs.

In August 2023, Hockey Canada released a document that clarifies 20 benefits available to participants in Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs and are either not provided or not guaranteed with non-sanctioned programs, which all operate without being recognized by government in Canada and are not governed by the International Ice Hockey Federation.

That document can be found here.”

The AJHL has also issued a statement this morning saying it is seeking clarity on conflicting statements:

rdnewsNOW has attempted to reach the BCHL for comment as well, and will update this story if and when we hear back.

READ MORE

• AJHL cancels all upcoming games between defecting and non-defecting teams
• Five AJHL teams to become members of BCHL

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