AJHL schedule revised to 57 games, top 5 get bye to playoff quarterfinals

The Bonnyville Pontiacs will have two games from their schedule removed, the AJHL announced on Thursday afternoon.

The league put out its schedule and playoff format update, saying each team will play 57 games.

This means that the previously scheduled Sunday, Feb. 11 at Grande Prairie, and Tuesday, Feb. 27 at Fort McMurray are cancelled.

Looking at playoffs, the top-5 teams will get a break at the end of the regular season, as the bottom-6 remaining will play a best-of-five play-in series to determine the final three seeds.

So, the 6-seed would play the 11-seed, the 7-seed will play the 10-seed, and the 8-seed will face the 9-seed.

Then, three rounds of playoffs will occur, beginning March 15-17.

There is no impact to home games scheduled for the Pontiacs.

Six games then remain on the slate for the Yaks:

• -Friday, Feb. 9 at Whitecourt | 7pm
• -Saturday, Feb. 10 at Grande Prairie | 6pm
• -Saturday, Feb. 17 at Drumheller | 7pm
• -Wednesday, Feb. 21 vs Camrose | 7pm
• -Friday, March 1 vs Whitecourt | 7pm
• -Saturday, March 2 vs Drayton Valley | 7pm

As of publication, the Pontiacs are tied for 2nd in the league, two points behind the Whitecourt Wolverines. However, the Wolverines have three games in hand.

You can listen to every game, all season of B&R Eckels Bonnyville Pontiacs with Michael Menzies on lakelandconnect.net/pontiacs.