Alberta Junior Hockey League

Infobox sports league
logo=ajhl.pngpixels=150px
sport=Ice hockey
founded=1963
teams=16
country=CAN
champion=Camrose KodiaksThe Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) is an Alberta-based Junior A hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). It was formed as a five-team league in 1963. There are currently 16 teams in the league. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy. The playoff champions receive the Rogers Wireless Cup (the Carling O'Keefe trophy before 1998). The winner of the AJHL playoffs continues on to play in the Doyle Cup in a best-of-7 series against the champion of the British Columbia Hockey League. The winner of the Doyle Cup will compete in the Junior "A" National Championship for the Royal Bank Cup.

:"For the pacific championship between the AJHL and the BCHL champions, see the Doyle Cup."

:"For the National Championship, see the Royal Bank Cup 2008."

History

The early 1960s saw a much different junior hockey scenario in Alberta than what currently exists. The Edmonton Oil Kings were the only true-junior "A" calibre team in the province and drew most of the top talent Alberta had to offer. The Oil Kings were the Western Canadian champions from 1962 until 1966, Abbott Cup Champions in 1954 and from 1960 to 1966, and Memorial Cup National Champions in 1963 and 1966. In 1966, the Oil Kings helped create the Western Hockey League. The issue in 1963 was that there were hundreds of junior-calibre players in the province, but only really one team to play for. A group of business and hockey people got together and decided to form a Junior "A" league in an attempt to truly develop Alberta hockey. The original league consisted of the Edmonton Safeway Canadians, the Edmonton Maple Leafs, the Lethbridge Sugar Kings, Calgary Cowboys, and the Calgary Buffaloes.

The Edmonton Safeway Canadians and Maple Leafs would later merge in 1971 to become the Edmonton Mets, then move to Spruce Grove to become the Spruce Grove Mets in 1974. They lasted only three seasons in Spruce Grove, however they won the AJHL title twice, and the Manitoba Centennial Trophy in 1975. In 1976, they moved again to become the St. Albert Saints, where they won three more league titles. In 2004, the team returned to Spruce Grove as the Spruce Grove Saints. This well-travelled franchise has sent over 30 players into the National Hockey League, including Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier."AJHL Annual Guide & Record Book 2006–07", pg. 98]

One of the AJHL's most famous franchises, the Red Deer Rustlers, joined the league in 1967 capturing the championship in their first season. The Rustlers had attempted to join the Western Canada Junior Hockey League, but were blocked by the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association, and instead placed in the AJHL. [ [http://www.ajhl.ca/history/history_1960s.php AJHL history—1960s] , ajhl.ca] In 1971, the Rustlers captured the first Manitoba Centennial Trophy as national Junior A champions. The Rustlers, who featured all six Sutter brothers who would go onto the National Hockey League, won eight AJHL titles and two Centennial Trophy's during their existence. They were expelled from the league, however, in 1989, and formally folded in 1992 when the Red Deer Rebels joined the WHL. [ [http://www.ajhl.ca/history/history_1980s.php AJHL history—1980s] ]

In 1971, the Calgary Canucks were founded following the demise of the Cowboys and Buffaloes. Today, the Canucks are the oldest franchise still operating in the AJHL. Founded with a mandate to focus on giving Calgary area kids a place to play while focusing on their educational needs. The Canucks have captured a league record nine AJHL championships and won the Centennial Cup in 1995, the Canadian Championship of Junior A hockey, now know know as the Royal Bank Cup.

Current teams

References

External links

* [http://www.ajhl.ca AJHL official website]