This past week the Alberta Junior Hockey League announced the schedule for the 2014-15 Season. Once again, each AJHL team will play 60 games, 29 Home games, 29 Away games and 2 games at the AJHL Showcase, being designated as the Home team once, in late September.
The Crusaders will play the 7 other teams in the North Division 6 times, 3 games on the road and 3 games at the Sherwood Park Arena. They will also play the 8 South Division teams at least twice, the extra games will be versus the Brooks Bandits and Calgary Mustangs at the AJHL Showcase.
The Crusaders will begin their 36th year in the Alberta Junior Hockey League on the road in Lloydminster to take on the Bobcats on September 5th. One week later the Crusaders Home Opener will be against the defending Gas Drive Cup Champions Spruce Grove Saints. It will mark the first time the 2 teams meet since their epic 2nd round 7 game series this past Spring. It also is the first of a Home and Home between the 2 teams that weekend.
Below are some of the highlights and key dates in the 2014-15 for the Crusaders:
• Training Camp begins August 19th, 2014 with 55 players attending
• Pre-Season/Exhibition Schedule runs from Saturday August 23rd, 2014 to Saturday August 31st, 2014, including games at the Tournament at Edgeworth Centre in Camrose, AB
• September 5th, 2014 @ Lloydminster Bobcats – Season Opener
• September 12th, 2014 vs Spruce Grove Saints – Home Opener
• Thursday September 25th, 2014 and Friday September 26th, 2014 AJHL Showcase @ Tri Leisure Centre in Spruce Grove, AB (THU: VS Calgary Mustangs, FRI: VS Brooks Bandits)
• Tuesday September 30th, 2014 @ Bonnyville – First meeting between clubs since 2014 1st round Playoff series
• Friday November 7th, 2014 @ Camrose Kodiaks – Last game between clubs included Crusaders Goaltender Tommy Nixon in an altercation with Kodiaks Goaltender Matthew Zentner
• Monday December 1st, 2014– CJHL/AJHL Roster Cut Down – All Canadian Junior Hockey League teams including all Alberta Junior Hockey League teams must have their rosters down to 25 Players
• Thursday December 18th, 2014 @ Drayton Valley – Final game before Christmas Break
• Saturday Januray 3rd, 2015 vs Lloydminster – First game after Christmas Break
• Saturday January 10th, 2015 – CJHL/AJHL Trade Deadline, including roster cut down to 23 Players
• Saturday January 24th, 2015 vs Brooks Bandits – Always one of the top games of the season when the Crusaders host the Bandits, Brooks has failed to win in Sherwood Park in 7 seasons
• Monday February 16th, 2015 @ Spruce Grove – The Crusaders travel cross town on Family Day to take on the Saints for the final time in the 2014-15 Regular Season
• Sunday February 22nd, 2015 vs Bonnyville – Final Home game of the Regular Season for the Crusaders
• Saturday February 28th, 2015 @ Grande Prairie – Crusaders wrap up the 2014-15 Regular Season with their 2nd of 2 games versus the Storm in GP
• March 5th, 2015 – The Gas Drive Cup Playoffs begin
For the complete Crusaders schedule click here. And for information regarding season tickets or tickets to any Crusader Home Game contact Rhonda at the Crusaders office by calling 780-417-1175 or by email at CrusadersOffice@shaw.ca