It’s the only Junior A team in Canada that knows for certain it’ll be playing for a national championship in May, but that doesn’t mean the Camrose Kodiaks are in cruise control during the Alberta Junior Hockey League playoffs.

The South Division’s No. 3 seed, the Kodiaks advanced to the postseason’s second round with a four-game victory over the Drumheller Dragons in the preliminary round, erasing a 1-0 deficit and wrapping up the series with a pair of victories on the road.

Tyler Jewitt (3g, 3a) and captain Clayton Jardine (2g, 4a) – the only player on the Camrose roster who was with the team the last time they played at the RBC Cup, in 2008 in Cornwall, Ont. – led the way in the win over the Dragons, tying for fourth in AJHL playoff scoring, while Dalyn Flette’s 1.51 goals against average was second best among goaltenders who played at least two games.

Up next for the Kodiaks are the second-ranked Brooks Bandits, who disposed of the Canmore Eagles in three straight in Round 1 and finished seven points ahead of Camrose during the regular season. The Kodiaks owned the season series with a 4-1-1 (W-L-OTL) record, outscoring the Bandits 25-12.

CAMROSE KODIAKS VS. BROOKS BANDITS

Game 1 – Saturday, March 5 – Camrose @ Brooks
Game 2 – Sunday, March 6 – Camrose @ Brooks
Game 3 – Tuesday, March 8 – Brooks @ Camrose
Game 4 – Wednesday, March 9 – Brooks @ Camrose
*Game 5 – Friday, March 11 – Camrose @ Brooks
*Game 6 – Sunday, March 15 – Brooks @ Camrose
*Game 7 – Tuesday, March 17 – Camrose @ Brooks

* if necessary

Follow along with the AJHL playoffs at www.ajhl.ca, or follow the nation-wide Road to the RBC Cup at www.hockeycanada.ca/rbccup.