This is the 2021-22 Can-Am Junior Hockey League season.
History[]
On January 5, 2022 the six teams that were still actively playing in the Western States Hockey League decided after meetings held at the Western States Shootout in Las Vegas to withdraw from the AAU and the league to form the Can-Am Junior Hockey League which would continue play for the balance of the 2021-22 season.[1]
On May 5, 2022 the Vernal Oilers were announced as being added as a new member of the United States Premier Hockey League's Premier League's newly formed Northwest Division for the 2022-23 season.
Scheduling Challenges[]
As a way to get the schedule balanced out and reduce travel expenses the Vernal Oilers schedule was made to have the team play ten games in ten days with two games each against the other teams all on the road from January 12 to 21 with no two consecutive games being played in the same town.[2] Vernal would then host three teams over course of six weeks for three or four game homestands to further reduce travel for the Alberta teams. They then play 5 road games in five days in 5 towns March 25 to 29 with one game against each of the other members of the league to complete their schedule.[3]
Due to the circumstances of the departure from the WSHL and the league formation the league was founded on January 5th but its first actual game that counted in the league standings was actually played back on October 15th. The first league game under the CAJHL banner is being played on January 12th.
Expansion[]
On March 21, 2022 the league announced the addition of the AMP Warriors who will be based out of the WinSport Arenas at the Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta for the 2022-23 season. The team represents the AMP Hockey Academy.[4]
Teams[]
Standings[]
The teams have included the time spent in the WSHL as games included in the new league standings.
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Lake Aeros | 40 | 36 | 4 | 0 | 260 | 96 | 72 | .900 |
| Hinton Timberwolves | 40 | 25 | 10 | 5 | 234 | 178 | 55 | .688 |
| Vernal Oilers | 41 | 23 | 16 | 2 | 272 | 229 | 48 | .585 |
| Vegreville Vipers | 42 | 20 | 19 | 3 | 211 | 203 | 43 | .512 |
| Barrhead Bombers | 42 | 10 | 26 | 6 | 179 | 299 | 26 | .310 |
| Edmonton Eagles | 37 | 9 | 26 | 2 | 158 | 269 | 20 | .270 |
Playoffs[]
Held April 5-9, 2022 at Cold Lake Energy Centre in Cold Lake, Alberta.
Format[]
All teams qualify. Teams are paired into two groups of three to play a round robin within the group.
Pool A[]
- Cold Lake Aeros defeated Barrhead Bombers 7-2
- Cold Lake Aeros defeated Vernal Oilers 6-5
- Vernal Oilers defeated Barrhead Bombers 6-2
Standings[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Lake Aeros | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 4 |
| Vernal Oilers | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 2 |
| Barrhead Bombers | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 0 |
Pool B[]
- Hinton Timberwolves defeated Edmonton Eagles 6-1
- Vegreville Vipers defeated Edmonton Eagles 9-0
- Hinton Timberwolves defeated Vegreville Vipers 8-2
Standings[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hinton Timberwolves | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 4 |
| Vegreville Vipers | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 2 |
| Edmonton Eagles | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0 |
Semifinals[]
- Vernal Oilers defeated Hinton Timberwolves 5-4 (so)
- Cold Lake Aeros defeated Vegreville Vipers 7-2
Final[]
- Cold Lake Aeros defeated Vernal Oilers 6-1