AJHL challenges BCHL and “five defecting teams” to clarify “contradictory” statements

The AJHL says until there is clarity that these five teams have no plans to depart, the cancellations remain. 

The first public statements by the “defecting five teams” were made on Thursday night, which has been challenged by the AJHL on Friday morning.

A joint statement from the Brooks Bandits, Blackfalds Bulldogs, Spruce Grove Saints, Okotoks Oilers, and Sherwood Park Crusaders said they remain members in good standing of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, Canadian Junior Hockey League, Hockey Alberta, and Hockey Canada.

They said they do not agree with games being cancelled and have full intention of fulfilling our commitments to each of those bodies for the reaminder of the 2023-24 regular season and postseason.

“We have not entered into any agreement to leave any of those organizations, nor have we made any announcement to that effect,” the statement reads.

“We strongly believe that our players should be on the ice playing hockey and competing for an Inter Pipeline Cup and we will do everything we can to bring this unfortunate situation to a positive resolution.”

Each of the five teams released this statement.

The only public address of the BCHL situation was sharing the press release on Saturday morning with no added comment, except for Okotoks Oilers, who didn’t share it.

Calling for immediate clarification

After reports circulated on Friday night, the BCHL said that these five teams “have agreed to terms” to join their league for 2024-25.

The AJHL says they are aware “of the contradictory statements coming from the BCHL and the five defecting clubs, and the negative impact they are having on our players and their families.”

Since last Saturday, games between these five franchises against the remaining 11 have been cancelled. Only games where the five teams play each other will remain on the schedule.

This was affirmed in a statement on Thursday, saying these cancellations will continue until further notice.

“The denial made late Thursday night by the five clubs directly contradicts the BCHL itself, which said last Saturday that the unsanctioned league and the clubs had ‘committed to terms’ for the teams to join the BCHL starting in the 2024-25 season.

“In addition to contradicting the BCHL, last night’s statement is at odds with earlier statements from the five clubs. This includes a media comment from Bandits President Paul Seaton, who said two days ago that ‘nothing has been signed yet but an agreement has been reached and our board has agreed to it unanimously…The information wasn’t supposed to be out until May 1.’

“Given the suggestion by the five clubs that the BCHL issued a false statement, and the inconsistent and conflicting information coming from the five clubs themselves, the AJHL is calling on the BCHL and the clubs to provide immediate clarification.

“Until such time as the AJHL is satisfied that there are no plans for the five clubs to depart the league to play unsanctioned hockey, the current scheduling decisions remain in place.”

The impact on the Bonnyville Pontiacs, at this time, was three cancelled games. Tonight vs the Spruce Grove Saints, and games in February against the Brooks Bandits and Sherwood Park Crusaders.