Road to the 2018 RBC Cup: AJHL
Unbeaten in 2018, the Okotoks Oilers will take a 24-game winning streak into the Alberta Junior Hockey League playoffs
The Okotoks Oilers are regular-season champions of the AJHL for the first time in franchise history, propelled to the top of the standings by a long winning streak that will stretch into the postseason. The Oilers dropped a 2-1 decision to Drumheller on Dec. 29 and have not lost since, rattling off 24 consecutive victories to pull away from the two-time defending league champions from Brooks. Okotoks paced the AJHL at both ends of the ice, scoring a league-leading 270 goals while allowing a league-low 132. The Oilers spread out the scoring, with Tanner Laderoute (32-37—69) sitting seventh in the AJHL while leading a group of six skaters who finished with at least 50 points. On the back end, Riley Morris finished second in wins (31), goals-against average (1.98) and shutouts (4).
PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS North Division 2) Fort McMurray Oil Barons vs. 7) Bonnyville Pontiacs 3) Whitecourt Wolverines vs. 6) Lloydminster Bobcats 4) Grande Prairie Storm vs. 5) Sherwood Park Crusaders
BYES: 1) Spruce Grove Saints
South Division 2) Brooks Bandits vs. 7) Canmore Eagles 3) Drumheller Dragons vs. 6) Calgary Canucks 4) Camrose Kodiaks vs. 5) Calgary Mustangs
BYES: 1) Okotoks Oilers
FINAL STANDINGS (W-L-OTL) North Division Spruce Grove – 97 points (47-10-3) Fort McMurray – 89 points (42-13-5) Whitecourt – 73 points (33-20-7) Grande Prairie – 59 points (28-29-3) Sherwood Park – 56 points (27-31-2) Lloydminster – 49 points (23-34-3) Bonnyville – 48 points (20-32-8) Drayton Valley – 37 points (17-40-3)
South Division Okotoks – 106 points (52-6-2) Brooks – 91 points (45-14-1) Drumheller – 71 points (33-22-5) Camrose – 60 points (24-24-12) Calgary Mustangs – 55 points (24-29-7) Calgary Canucks – 54 points (26-32-2) Canmore – 44 points (21-37-2) Olds – 41 points (18-37-5)
LEADING SCORERS Chris Van Os-Shaw (Spruce Grove) – 51G 46A 97P Will Conley (Fort McMurray) – 48G 32A 80P Justin Bernier (Grande Prairie) – 31G 47A 78P Dennis Cesana (Brooks) – 14G 61A 75P Jordan Taupert (Drumheller) – 30G 44A 74P
LEADING GOALTENDERS Nolan Kent (Spruce Grove) – 15-4-0, 1.52 GAA, .934 SV%, 4 SO Riley Morris (Okotoks) – 31-2-2, 1.98 GAA, .922 SV%, 4 SO Mitchel Benson (Brooks) – 43-12-1, 2.20 GAA, .911 SV%, 5 SO Xavier Potvin (Whitecourt) – 25-14-6, 2.29 GAA, .918 SV%, 4 SO Ben Howard (Okotoks) – 22-3-0, 2.33 GAA, .911 SV%, 1 SO
LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCE 2017 (Brooks Bandits – runner-up)
TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES 19 (2017, 2016, 2016 [host], 2013, 2011 [host], 2008, 2007, 2005, 2004 [host], 2003, 2001, 2000 [host], 1995, 1994 [host], 1980, 1976, 1975, 1972, 1971)
LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2013 (Brooks Bandits)
TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 8 (2013, Brooks Bandits; 2001, Camrose Kodiaks; 2000, Fort McMurray Oil Barons; 1995, Calgary Canucks; 1994, Olds Grizzlys; 1980, Red Deer Rustlers; 1975, Spruce Grove Mets; 1971, Red Deer Rustlers)
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