The battle for the AJHL Enerflex Cup has just entered the second round of playoff action. Now, the league leaders have joined the fray.
The Brooks Bandits and Spruce Grove Saints, two of the AJHL’s juggernauts had a little bit of a break during the first round of playoffs, but now they will be back in the thick of things. It remains to be seen whether the break gave them the chance to rest and come back with renewed strength or if there will be some rust on those skates.
The Bandits first game of the playoffs was last night against the Calgary Canucks. The Canucks were only three points ahead of the Drumheller Dragons in the standings and defeated the southern division’s third place team, the Camrose Kodiaks.
The Bandits and Canucks will meet again tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Brooks.
The other southern division rumble is against the Okotoks Oilers and the Olds Grizzlys. The Oilers are coming off a first round victory over the Dragons. The Grizzlys mauled the Calgary Mustangs, who had been 20 points ahead of the Grizzlys in the regular season.
The Oilers and Grizzlys first game was last night in Okotoks and the two will meet again tonight at 7:00 p.m.
For the northern division, the Saints will be defending their league leading legacy against the Drayton Valley Thunder. The two met last night and will play again tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m. in Spruce Grove.
The Thunder swept their first round series against the Lloydminster Bobcats.
The Fort McMurray Oil Barons, who had been only two points behind the Saints in the standings, defeated the Grande Prairie Storm in three games. The Sherwood Park Crusaders will be attempting to topple the Oil Barons after having reined in the Bonnyville Pontiacs.
The Oil Barons and Crusaders will duke it out starting tonight in Fort McMurray at 8:00 p.m.
The winners of the division semifinals will then have to face one another in the division finals on the road to be AJHL champions.