STA Steel situation almost done

It appears the the St Albert Steel, barring the AJHL BOG's not approving the Steel relocation request, will be in Whitecourt for the 2012-13 season.

Ft Sask Traders (1976-2007)

I spoke via e-mail with the St Albert Gazette Sports reporter, Jeff Hansen. He said that while Leduc and Dawson Creek were in the running for the franchise, Whitecourt is the destination.

"It is pretty much a done deal" said Hansen, and when asked if Leduc and DC has any chance, he gave me the short answer of "Nope."

The Steel moved to St Albert in 2007 from Fort Saskatchewan, then the Ft Sask Traders. At that time, the Traders was the second longest tenured team in the AJHL (founded in 1976). Only the Calgary Canucks had a longer tenure in their original city (the Canucks still are in Calgary).

St. Albert Steen (2007-Present?)

St. Albert was getting their 2nd Jr A team after the Saints moved to Spruce Grove in 2004 (they are still called the Saints). In 1977, the Saints franchise had moved from Spruce Grove (then called the Mets) to STA.

The whole relocation thing began in early March when it became clear that the lease agreement between the City of St. Albert and the franchise was not going to be renewed.

This raises the question now that when the franchise moves to Whitecourt, what happenes to the Jr B Wolverines?

The Whitecourt Wolverines recently competed in the Keystone Cup, the Jr B western Canadian championship, taking home a bronze medal, and also won or been finalists in Alberta for the last four years.

I'm sure there are towns/cities willing to land a very successful Jr B franchise.


For more info, follow me @sportsheilman, or stay tuned to the blog.

Dudley Hewitt Cup Champ to be named soon; Other league champs quickly after

The Central Canadian Cup, known as the Dudley Hewitt Cup, began April 17th in Thunder Bay, Ontario, home of the T-Bay North Stars.

In the DHC were the Host Stars, SIJHL Champs Wisconsin Wilderness, OJHL winners Stouffville Spirit and NOJHL's Soo Thunderbirds.

The dust has settled after the round robin, and the Standings are as follows:

Spirit: 2-1
T'birds: 2-1
Wilderness: 1-2
Stars: 1-2

As it shakes out, the Spirit get the bye to the final, due to beating the Soo in the RR game. The Stars actually will play the semi final game tomorrow evening at 5:30 SK time vs the T'birds because Thunder Bay beat Wisconsin in OT to claim 3rd spot. The winner of the 2/3 game will play Stouffville in Saturday evenings final (5:30pm SK time)

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In Fred Page Cup again, which will begin APR 24th to 29th, the only two known teams are the host Kanata Stallions (CCHL) and Titan de Princeville (LHJAAAQ). Both the CCHL game 6 and MHL game 7 run tomorrow night. Cornwall (CCHL, lead 3-2) and Woodstock (MHL, tied at 3) will look to win their leagues. If the Nepean Raiders, (Cornwalls opponent) wins, that game 7 will be Sunday at 2:30pm in Nepean.

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Doyle Cup action is as follows for the BCHL's Penticton Vee's and AJHL's Brooks Bandits:


2012 DOYLE CUP SCHEDULE
(IF GAMES 1 AND 2 ARE SPLIT BY BOTH TEAMS: SERIES TIED 1-1)

Game 1 - Friday, April 20th, 2012 in Alberta

Game 2 - Saturday, April 21st, 2012 in Alberta

Game 3 - Sunday April 22nd, 2012 in Alberta

Game 4 - Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 @ 7PM at SOEC

Game 5 - Thursday, April 26th, 2012 @ 7PM at SOEC

Game 6 - Saturday, April 28th, 2012 @ 7PM at SOEC
*IF NECESSARY

Game 7 - Sunday, April 29th, 2012 @ 7PM at SOEC
*IF NECESSARY


(IF GAMES 1 AND 2 ARE WON BY THE SAME TEAM: 2-0 SERIES LEAD)

Game 1 - Friday, April 20th, 2012 in Alberta

Game 2 - Saturday, April 21st, 2012 in Alberta

Game 3 - Tuesday, April 24th, 2012 @7PM at SOEC

Game 4 - Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 @7PM at SOEC

Game 5 - Friday, April 27th, 2012 @ 7PM at SOEC
*IF NECESSARY

Game 6 - Saturday, April 28th, 2012 @ 7PM at SOEC
*IF NECESSARY

Game 7 - Sunday, April 29th, 2012 @ 7PM at SOEC
*IF NECESSARY


Please note ** The SOEC is in Penticton, BC


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Anavet Cup also begins tomorrow, as the RBC Host and SJHL Champs Humboldt Broncos and MJHL Portage Terriers face off. The sched goes as follows: in HUM April 20/21, in POR April 24/25/26, in HUM April 28/29




Thats it for now! As always, follow me at @sportsheilman on twitter for more news and updates for every part of the JR A landscape.