Canadian Jr. A Playoffs: Pacific Region

It may only be February, but the playoffs are upon us in the Canadian Jr. A Ranks as the Canadian Junior Hockey Leagues (CJHL) have one of the longest and most complex playoff format in the world. In all, 11 leagues make up this level of play in different parts of Canada with over 140 teams playing that started the season back in September, will be cut down to 5 when we reach the RBC Cup in Early May which will be in Dauphin, Manitoba this season.

Here's a quick synopsis of the 2 leagues that make up the playoffs in the Pacific Region.

British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL): With the Conference Top Seeds getting first Round Byes. The playoffs start with the teams ranked 2 through 7 within the Conference. After that, the winners will advance to the Conference Semifinals where the #1 seed will play the lowest remining seed while the #2 and #3 seeds will play each other in the 2nd Round. After the 2nd Round, the Conference Finalist will square off for the Conference Championships who will play for the League Champioships. All matches are best of 7.

Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL): Like in the BCHL, the top seed will get a first round bye while the #2 takes on the #7, #3 against the #6 and the #4 vs. #5. Then after the 1st round, the top seed will play lowest remaining seed while the other two teams will face off in the Divisoin Semifinal. Then in the 3rd Round, the 4 remining teams will cross over where the top 4 seeds will be reseeded as the #1 overall will take on the #4 overall, while the #2 VS. #3 overall seeds will take off. Then Semifinal Winners will face off for the League Championship. The first round will be a best of 5 while the

Doyle Cup: This will be the best of 7 series that will crown the Pacific Region Champions where the Alberta League Champions will have home ice this year as home ice flip flops in this series. The winner will advance to the RBC Cup in Dauphin, Manitoba to play for the National Championship in early May.

All the Series will be a best of 7 Series with 1 excption. The AJHL will use a best of 5 during the 1st Round. The rest of the series will be a best of 7 format.

After the BCHL & AJHL Champions are crowned, the league champions will play for the Doyle Cup which is a best of 7 series In Mid April where the Winner will be crowned Regional Champions. And advance to the 5 team RBC Cup for the National Championship to play the West Region, Ontario Region and Atlantic Region Champions.

In addiditon, the Dauphin Kings who are hosting will get an automatic bid. After finishing with the MJHL's best record this season, they look for the rare feat of winning the RBC Cup on home soil.

Here's a look at the Final Standings and Playoff Matchups in the BCHL & AJHL.


British Columbia Hockey League Final Standings

Costal Conference

1. Alberni Valley 60 GP 45-12-1-2 93 PTS 233-145

2. Powell River 60 GP 36-17-1-6 79 PTS 216-160

3. Victoria 60 GP 34-18-2-6 76 PTS 220-175

4. Langley 60 GP 33-22-2-3 71 PTS 226-209

5. Surrey 60 GP 30-24-0-6 66 PTS 196-190

6. Nanaimo 60 GP 24-25-1-10 59 PTS 197-204

7. Cowichan Valley 60 GP 25-32-0-3 53 PTS 181-243

8. Burnaby 60 GP 18-36-0-6 42 PTS 175-256


Interior Conference

1. Vernon 60 GP 51-6-0-3 105 PTS 298-119

2. Penticton 60 GP 48-8-0-4 100 PTS 284-143

3. Westside 60 GP 38-18-1-3 80 PTS 244-173

4. Salom Arm 60 GP 29-25-3-3 64 PTS 227-227

5. Quesnel 60 GP 22-32-0-6 50 PTS 208-245

6. Trail 60 GP 20-32-1-7 48 PTS 216-271

7. Merritt 60 GP 22-36-0-2 46 PTS 215-319

8. Prince George 60 GP 18-37-1-4 41 PTS 210-270

9. Williams Lake 60 GP 10-49-1-0 21 PTS 157-354


Clinched 1st Round Byes

Clinched Playoff Spots



BCHL Playoff Matchups

Costal Conference Quarterfinals

#2 Powell River Kings VS. #7 Cowichan Valley Capitals

#3 Victoria Grizzlies VS. #6 Nanaimo Clippers

#4 Langley Chiefs VS. #5 Surrey Eagles


Conference Semifinals

#1 Alberni Valley Bulldogs VS. Lowest Seeded Quarterfinal Winner

#2 Seeded Team VS. #3 Seeded Team


Interior Conference

Conference Quarterfinals

#2 Penticton Vees VS. #7 Merritt Centenials

#3 Westside Warriors VS. #6 Trail Smoke Eaters

#4 Salom Arm Silverbacks VS. #5 Quesnel Millionaires


Conference Semifinals

#1 Vernon Vipers VS. Lowest Seeded Quarterfinal Winner

#2 Seeded Team VS. #3 Seeded Team

Here's the Full Playoff Bracket: www.bchl.ca/leagues/bracket_vert.cfm?clientid=1413&leagueid=2393



Alberta Junior Hockey League Final Standings

North Division

1. Spruce Grove 60 GP 52-4-1-3 108 PTS 252-99

2. Grande Prairie 60 GP 40-17-1-2 83 PTS 233-174

3. Ft. Mcmurray 60 GP 37-19-1-3 78 PTS 235-168

4. Sherwood Park 60 GP 33-18-2-7 75 PTS 206-181

5. Bonnyville 60 GP 27-29-2-2 58 PTS 175-190

6. St. Albert 60 GP 24-29-2-5 55 PTS 218-260

7. Lloydminister 60 GP 19-32-2-7 47 PTS 173-220

8. Drayton Valley 60 GP 12-42-3-3 30 PTS 139-269


South Division

1. Okotoks 60 GP 38-18-1-3 80 PTS 249-187

2. Camrose 60 GP 32-17-4-7 75 PTS 201-170

3. Olds 60 GP 30-23-2-5 67 PTS 189-185

4. Calgary Canucks 60 GP 29-27-3-1 62 PTS 214-225

5. Brooks 60 GP 28-27-1-4 61 PTS 218-205

6. Canmore 60 GP 26-26-3-5 60 PTS 202-217

7. Calgary Royals 60 GP 21-29-2-8 52 PTS 213-255

8. Drumheller 60 GP 17-37-0-6 40 PTS 157-269


AJHL Playoff Matchups

North Division 1st Round

#2 Grande Prairie Storm VS. #7 Lloydminster Bobcats

#3 Ft. Mcmurray Oil Barons VS. #6 St. Albert Steel

#4 Sherwood Park Crusaders VS. #5 Bonnyville Pontiacs


North Division 2nd Round

#1 Spurce Groove Saints VS. Lowest Seeded 1st Round Winner

#2 Seeded Team VS. #3 Seeded Team


South Division 1st Round

#2 Camrose Kodiaks VS. #7 Calgary Royals

#3 Olds Grizzlies VS. #6 Canmore Eagles

#4 Calgary Canucks VS. #5 Brooks Bandits



South Division 2nd Round

#1 Okotoks Oilers VS. 4th Seeded Team

#2 Seeded Team VS. #3 Seeded Team

Alberta Junior Hockey League Playoff Bracket: www.ajhl.ca/leagues/bracket_vert.cfm?leagueID=3464&clientID=1705&link=AJHL/

Canadaian Jr. A: Pacific Region Update

Here's a look at how the British Columbia Hockey League and the Alberta Junior Hockey League are going as we are about a 3rd into the season in both leagues.

British Columbia Hockey League

The Surrey Eagles and Powell River Kings are 1 and 2 in the Costal Conference as both teams with some great goaltending. Josh Watson is currently 3rd in the GAA with a 1.96 and a .929 SV% as the helped the River Kings to get them just 2 points behind the Surrey Eagles which are leading the conference by winning 15 of their 23 games.

After Langley in 3rd who's in 3rd, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and the Victoria Grizzlies may by fighting for home ice advantage in the 1st round of the playoffs as the teams are 4th and 5th. For Victoria, they have been scoring by committee as only one player is in double digit goals while Jordan Heywood, Alex Allan and Joel Lowry are the main set up men as all 3 players are near a point a game so far this season. The bottom of the Conference could be for the final playoff spot along the Coast as Nanaimo, Burnaby and Cowichan Valley will be fighting along the bottom.

The interior, their is a cleary 2 tiers as the Vernon Vipers and Penticton Vees as the teams that are in the top 5 of the CJHL Rankings and have a 10 point gap over the Salom Arm Silverbacks and the Westside Warriors.

Both the Vipers and Vees are already over 100 goals for the season. Leading the way on the offense for the Vees are Denver Manderson and Beau Bennett, Vernon has Mark Collins leading the way with 7 players already with 20 points or more so far.

Salom Arm and Westside will be most likely be fighting it out for 3rd and 4th, the Silverbacks have among the league leaders with Mark Zengerle with 47 points, but their goaltending has been a bit weak with Tony Inerfino with a less then stellar 3.39 GAA. From the Prince George Spruce Kings on down, it's going to be a fight for the 5th and 6th place spots most likely as the gap from 5th through 9th is just 5 points.

BTW: Both the British Colubmia HOckey League and the Alberta Junior Hockey League still have ties during the regular season.

League Standings

Costal Conference

1. Surrey Eagles 23 GP 15-7-0-1 31 PTS 76-67

2. Powell River Kings 23 GP 13-7-1-2 29 PTS 71-53

3. Langley Chiefs 20 GP 12-6-1-1 26 PTS 71-54

4. Alberni Valley Bulldogs 19 GP 10-7-1-1 22 PTS 62-55

5. Victoria Grizzlies 18 GP 9-6-1-2 21 PTS 64-54

6. Nanaimo Clippers 18 GP 6-8-0-4 16 PTS 54-57

7. Burnaby Express 20 GP 7-11-0-2 16 PTS 58-76

8. Cowichan Valley 20 GP 6-13-0-1 13 PTS 50-93


Interior Conference

1. Vernon Vipers 19 GP 18-1-0-0 36 PTS 101-32

2. Penticton Vees 20 GP 17-2-0-1 35 PTS 100-41

3. Salom Arm Silverbacks 22 GP 12-8-1-1 26 PTS 88-81

4. Westside Warriors 19 GP 12-7-0-0 24 PTS 82-59

5. Prince George Spruce Kings 21 GP 7-12-1-1 16 PTS 67-86

6. Quesnel Millionaires 21 GP 6-12-0-3 15 PTS 61-82

7. Trail Smoke Eaters 22 GP 6-14-1-1 14 PTS 77-110

8. Merritt Centennials 20 GP 6-13-0-1 13 PTS 65-124

9. Williams Like T-Wolves 17 GP 5-11-1-0 11 PTS 59-82


Alberta Junior Hockey League

About 20 games into the season, the Spruce Groove Saints are head and shoulders above the rest of the league by winning 18 of their 20 games so far this season and are doing it with some strong goaltending. The goalies, Vincenzo Marozzi and Travis Rolheiser are leading the league in goaltending with GAA of just over 1.50 Yikes. After Spruce Groove, the rest of the North, the spots from 2nd through 5th are just seperated by 4 points as the Bonnyville Pontiacs are currently in 2nd.

The Grand Prairie Storm are doing it with their scoring machines with Dennix Rix and Zahn Raubenheimer are among the league leaders in scoring with 44 and 42 points so far through 21 games. St. Albert and Lloydminster are currently tied for 6th as this may be the battle to get in the playoffs with the Drayton Valley Thunder down in last with just 11 points.

Down South, Camrose is back on top with a 6 point gap over the Brooks Bandits as the Calgary Canucks, Okotoks, and Canmore are seperated by just 2 points. The bottom of the South is just bad this year as the Drumheller Dragons and the Olds Grizzlies who are in last and in a very bad shape right now.

League Standings

North Division

1. Spruce Groove Saints 20 GP 18-1-0-1 37 PTS 78-31

2. Bonnyville Pontiacs 20 GP 14-6-0-0 28 PTS 69-60

3. Ft. Mcmurray Oil Barons 22 GP 13-8-0-1 27 PTS 80-63

4. Grand Prairie Storm 21 GP 12-7-0-2 26 PTS 86-73

5. Sherwood Park Crusaders 21 GP 10-7-1-3 24 PTS 68-67

6. St. Albert Steel 20 GP 8-10-1-1 18 PTS 72-80

7. Lloydminster Bobcats 21 GP 8-11-0-2 18 PTS 69-83

8. Drayton Valley Thunder 19 GP 5-13-0-1 11 PTS 38-74


South Division

1. Camrose Kodiaks 22 GP 15-7-0-0 30 PTS 81-56

2. Brooks Bandits 20 GP 11-7-1-1 24 PTS 79-60

3. Calgary Canucks 19 GP 10-7-2-0 22 PTS 68-62

4. Okotoks Oilers 18 GP 10-8-0-0 20 PTS 73-62

5. Canmore Eagles 21 GP 9-10-1-1 20 PTS 76-75

6. Drumheller Dragons 21 GP 7-12-0-2 16 PTS 54-90

7. Calgary Royals 22 GP 6-13-0-3 15 PTS 63-94

8. Olds Grizzlies 21 GP 5-13-0-3 13 PTS 54-78