Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…..
The Alberta Elite Junnior Hockey League, what can we say that hasnt already been said by parents and players in Western Canada? Well, we can actually say quite a few things about this abomination that was.
When you decide to start a league with two or three months lead time, from a group of defectors from another league, your chances of success are next to zero. Bad idea and worse execution.
The league logo? What is that exactly? A bomerang and some bad font with a puck, or did someones first grader draw that up on daddy’s computer? I cant even draw a heart without messing it up, but this logo was something else.
Two teams, the Northern Alberta Lightning and Hinton Canadians, both owned by one man, Mike Renner have left the AEJHL for the NJHL. This done within hours of declining to sign documents with the USPHL in which the USPHL was not going to accept the Northern Alberta Lightning into the league and wouold have left Renner with only one team.
When a team owner, or team leader wants to continue on with a team of roughly eleven skaters that tells you a lot. It says he does not care about the quality of play or the players, only that he cares about owning the team and keeping the money flowing in.
The Lac La Biche Islanders are now up next to make a decision. Join the NJHL, join the USPHL, or fold. For Lac La Biche, they may not have any option. Why would the NJHL take them back after going to court over the franchise? Why would the USPHL trust them after they just bolted from the NJHL, and ignored a court order? My money is on them folding, and those players dispersing to mostly USPHL teams.
The team in Onion Lake on the other hand, looks to be a very solid franchise. Good fan support and full of local players. This could be a very good organization moving forward. My money is on them joining the USPHL within the next few days.
So ends the saga of the AEJHL. But the battle for dominance in Alberta is only beginning. This will be a hotbead for pay to play hockey moving forward. Look for franchises to return to some of the olf CAJHL locations next season, and owners who once were thought retired to come back into play.
Is there anyone left to fold? We will have what is likely to be a wrap up on the 2025 season of death next week as we look to bring back our “Its not junior hockey” series soon.
