BROOKS, AB (June 15, 2023) – The Alberta Junior Hockey League announced its 2023-24 Exhibition and Regular Season schedule, with the Brooks Bandits looking to defend their three straight AJHL and National Championships.
The 60th anniversary season of the AJHL will debut a new schedule format with the league moving away from divisional play and to a balanced schedule. This year’s schedule features 62 games, 30 home, 30 away and two at the AJHL Showcase in Calgary at the end of September.
Following the Bandits Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, September 1st at the Brooks Golf Club, the Bandits open their Exhibition Schedule on Tuesday, September 5th vs Okotoks, followed by a September 8th trip to Okotoks. They welcome the Oilers to the CRA on Saturday, September 9th to conclude the pre-season.
The Bandits open the 2023-24 Regular Season on the road, with stops in Drayton Valley on Friday, September 15th, and Whitecourt on Saturday, September 16th.
This year’s schedule features 24 Friday and Saturday home dates for the Bandits, with only one Wednesday Date (November 15th vs Canmore @ 6:30 pm), one Sunday date (January 21st vs Whitecourt @ 4:00 pm) and one Tuesday (February 6th vs Grande Prairie @ Noon), which will see the Bandits partner with local students for Hockey Hooky.
The 2023 Home Opener is Friday, September 22nd against the Sherwood Park Crusaders. Prior to the game, there will be a Championship Banner Ceremony and Parking Lot Tailgate party. The Home Opener Weekend continues Saturday, September 23rd when the Wolverines visit the CRA.
The Bandits have three Holiday Monday home games: October 9th vs the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, January 1st vs the Olds Grizzlys and February 19th vs the Grande Prairie Storm. All three games start at 4:00 pm.
The geographical rival Drumheller Dragons visit Brooks for a pair of games on the weekend of October 20th and 21st.
The first rematch of the 2023 AJHL Final goes October 28th in Spruce Grove, with the Saints visiting Brooks for back-to-back games on December 1st and 2nd.
Following the Christmas break, the rival Okotoks Oilers make their first regular season trip to the CRA on December 30th and again on January 26th.
The longest road trip of the year sees the Bandits play six straight away from the CRA, including a four-game trip through Sherwood Park, Lloydminster, Fort McMurray and Bonnyville from January 13th to 17th.
The Regular Season concludes on Saturday, March 2nd vs the Blackfalds Bulldogs.
The 2024 AJHL Playoffs begin on Friday, March 8th with an updated playoff format. The top fourteen teams will qualify for the 2024 AJHL Playoffs and the top two teams will receive a bye in Round One. Each round will be a best-of-seven series with the first-place team playing the lowest place team. The 2024 Centennial Cup National Junior A Championship will take place from May 9th -19th, 2024 in Oakville, ON.
The Alberta Junior Hockey League will continue to implement a four-man referee system at all AJHL regular season and playoff games in the 2023-24 season. The Alberta Junior Hockey League will also introduce a pilot program for video review on goals at specific AJHL arenas across the province. The project will be reviewed at the conclusion of the season for the purpose of expanding the program.
A full promotional schedule will be released soon.
2023-24 Bandits Season Tickets will be on sale starting Monday, June 19th. Call 403-501-0122 for more information or visit brooksbandits.ca.