2018  r t r c  a j h l

Road to the 2018 RBC Cup: AJHL

Unbeaten in 2018, the Okotoks Oilers will take a 24-game winning streak into the Alberta Junior Hockey League playoffs

Jason La Rose
|
March 6, 2018
|

The Okotoks Oilers are regular-season champions of the AJHL for the first time in franchise history, propelled to the top of the standings by a long winning streak that will stretch into the postseason. The Oilers dropped a 2-1 decision to Drumheller on Dec. 29 and have not lost since, rattling off 24 consecutive victories to pull away from the two-time defending league champions from Brooks. Okotoks paced the AJHL at both ends of the ice, scoring a league-leading 270 goals while allowing a league-low 132. The Oilers spread out the scoring, with Tanner Laderoute (32-37—69) sitting seventh in the AJHL while leading a group of six skaters who finished with at least 50 points. On the back end, Riley Morris finished second in wins (31), goals-against average (1.98) and shutouts (4).

PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS
North Division
2) Fort McMurray Oil Barons vs. 7) Bonnyville Pontiacs
3) Whitecourt Wolverines vs. 6) Lloydminster Bobcats
4) Grande Prairie Storm vs. 5) Sherwood Park Crusaders

BYES:
1) Spruce Grove Saints

South Division
2) Brooks Bandits vs. 7) Canmore Eagles
3) Drumheller Dragons vs. 6) Calgary Canucks
4) Camrose Kodiaks vs. 5) Calgary Mustangs

BYES:
1) Okotoks Oilers

FINAL STANDINGS (W-L-OTL)
North Division
Spruce Grove – 97 points (47-10-3)
Fort McMurray – 89 points (42-13-5)
Whitecourt – 73 points (33-20-7)
Grande Prairie – 59 points (28-29-3)
Sherwood Park – 56 points (27-31-2)
Lloydminster – 49 points (23-34-3)
Bonnyville – 48 points (20-32-8)
Drayton Valley – 37 points (17-40-3)

South Division
Okotoks – 106 points (52-6-2)
Brooks – 91 points (45-14-1)
Drumheller – 71 points (33-22-5)
Camrose – 60 points (24-24-12)
Calgary Mustangs – 55 points (24-29-7)
Calgary Canucks – 54 points (26-32-2)
Canmore – 44 points (21-37-2)
Olds – 41 points (18-37-5)

LEADING SCORERS
Chris Van Os-Shaw (Spruce Grove) – 51G 46A 97P
Will Conley (Fort McMurray) – 48G 32A 80P
Justin Bernier (Grande Prairie) – 31G 47A 78P
Dennis Cesana (Brooks) – 14G 61A 75P
Jordan Taupert (Drumheller) – 30G 44A 74P

LEADING GOALTENDERS
Nolan Kent (Spruce Grove) – 15-4-0, 1.52 GAA, .934 SV%, 4 SO
Riley Morris (Okotoks) – 31-2-2, 1.98 GAA, .922 SV%, 4 SO
Mitchel Benson (Brooks) – 43-12-1, 2.20 GAA, .911 SV%, 5 SO
Xavier Potvin (Whitecourt) – 25-14-6, 2.29 GAA, .918 SV%, 4 SO
Ben Howard (Okotoks) – 22-3-0, 2.33 GAA, .911 SV%, 1 SO

LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCE
2017 (Brooks Bandits – runner-up)

TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES
19 (2017, 2016, 2016 [host], 2013, 2011 [host], 2008, 2007, 2005, 2004 [host], 2003, 2001, 2000 [host], 1995, 1994 [host], 1980, 1976, 1975, 1972, 1971)

LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
2013 (Brooks Bandits)

TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
8 (2013, Brooks Bandits; 2001, Camrose Kodiaks; 2000, Fort McMurray Oil Barons; 1995, Calgary Canucks; 1994, Olds Grizzlys; 1980, Red Deer Rustlers; 1975, Spruce Grove Mets; 1971, Red Deer Rustlers)

For more information:

Esther Madziya
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 284-6484 

[email protected] 

Spencer Sharkey
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 777-4567

[email protected]

Jeremy Knight
Manager, Corporate Communications
Hockey Canada

(647) 251-9738

[email protected]

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