The top two Junior ‘A’ leagues in Canada have whittled their 32 teams down to 26 for the post season with just a single ticket to Victoria up for grabs.
The Doyle Cup annually pits the AJHL Champion (Enerflex Cup) against the BCHL Champion (Fred Page Cup) and the winner is the ‘Pacific’ entry to the National Championship ‘RBC Cup’. With Victoria already assured of their ticket to the National Championship (host privilage), there are now 25 teams fighting for one spot.
With the playoffs starting this weekend in Alberta and B.C. let’s take a look at the field (seed in parentheses)
AJHL
SOUTH DIVISION BYE - (S1) Brooks Bandits
NORTH DIVISION BYE - (N1) Spruce Grove Saints
SOUTH 1st ROUND MATCH-UPS
(S2) Okotoks Oilers vs. (S7) Canmore Eagles
(S3) Olds Grizzlies vs. (S6) Drumheller Dragons
(S4) Calgary Canucks vs. (S5) Camrose Kodiaks*^+
NORTH 1st ROUND MATCH-UPS
(N2) Grande Prairie Storm vs. (N7) Lloydminster Bobcats
(N3) Sherwood Park Crusaders vs. (N6) St. Albert Steel
(N4) Bonnyville Pontiacs vs. (N5) Fort McMurray Oil Barons*
BCHL
INTERIOR CONFERENCE BYES - (I1) Vernon Vipers (I2) Salmon Arm Silverbacks
COASTAL CONFERENCE BYES - (Is1) Victoria Grizzlies (M1) Powell River Kings
INTERIOR 1st ROUND MATCH-UPS
(I3) Westside Warriors vs. (I6) Trail Smoke Eaters
(I4) Penticton Vees*^ vs. (I5) Prince George Spruce Kings
COASTAL 1st ROUND MATCH-UPS
(Is2) Cowichan Valley Capitals vs. (Is3) Nanaimo Clippers* (Island Division)
(M2) Langley Chiefs vs. (M3) Surrey Eagles (Mainland Division)
*League Final Participant Last Season ^League Champion +Doyle Cup Champion
These 26 teams will be chopped down to 16 within 2 weeks, the RBC Cup puck drop is just 65 days away.
Oh yeah, here are the less fortunate:
WESTERN CANADIAN BEST BALL
(S8) Calgary Royals, (N8) Drayton Valley Thunder, (I7) Quesnel Millionaires, (I8) Merritt Centennials, (Is4) Alberni Valley, (M4) Burnaby Express
