According to Nishat Chowdhury of CBC News On Monday, five teams from the Alberta Junior Hockey League will move to the British Columbia Hockey League. They are the Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders and Spruce Grove Saints. The realignment is scheduled to begin for the 2024-25 BCHL season.
The announcement leaves the AJHL with 11 teams. These are the Bonnyville Pontiacs, Drayton Valley Thunder, Fort McMurray Oil Barons, Grande Prairie Storm, Lloydminster Bobcats and Whitecourt Wolverines in the North Division and the Calgary Canucks, Camrose Kodiaks, Canmore Eagles, Drumheller Dragons and Olds Grizzlys in the South Division.
There is currently no reason why the five teams are leaving the AJHL for the BCHL. However, it should be noted that the BCHL has distanced itself from Hockey Canada and is now independent. One reason for the separation lies in the recruiting rules. The BCHL allows teams to recruit players from other provinces at ages 16 and 17. This is not permitted in other junior hockey leagues across Canada that are under the Hockey Canada umbrella. The BCHL champions did not participate in the National Junior A Championship when the Prince George Spruce Kings participated, reaching the final before losing 4-3 to the Bandits.
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