North Division Quarterfinal
Both series in the North Division quarterfinals went the distance, leading to a do-or-die Game 3 situation. The Edmonton Jr. Oilers Blue were shut out in the series opener by the LJAC Oil Kings but made a dramatic comeback, tying the series in double overtime. In Game 3, the Oilers Blue returned the favour by shutting out the Oil Kings, thus moving on to the second round. In the four vs. five matchup, the Edmonton Jr. Oilers Orange and the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers traded 5-2 victories, splitting the first two games of their series. However, the Oilers Orange emerged victorious in Game 3, winning 6-2 to advance into the second round.
South Division Quarterfinals
The South Division quarterfinals featured the only sweep of the first round, with the underdog sixth-place Calgary Royals defeating the Okotoks Oilers in two games. The four vs. five series between the Calgary Buffaloes and the Airdrie Bisons was a hard-fought battle, with all three games going into overtime. Ultimately, the Buffaloes secured victory in Game 3, allowing them to advance to the second round.
Round 2 Matchups
North Division Semifinal
St. Albert Raiders vs (4) Edmonton Jr. Oilers Orange
SPKAC Kings vs (3) Edmonton Jr. Oilers Blue
South Division Semifinal
Calgary Flames vs (6) Calgary Royals
Calgary Northstars vs (4) Calgary Buffaloes
In the first round of the playoffs, Cole Serdachny and Miller Komarniski, forwards for the Edmonton Jr. Oilers Orange and Fort Saskatchewan Rangers, respectively, are leading the way with five points each through three games. Serdachny is tied for the goal-scoring lead alongside Dante Mauro, a forward for the Edmonton Jr. Oilers Blue, with both players netting three goals. Nathan Salisbury, the goaltender for Oilers Blue, is at the top of the leaderboard for goals-against average with a mark of 1.55. Meanwhile, Jac Carli, the netminder for the Calgary Buffaloes, is leading in save percentage with an impressive .953.
The second round of the AEHL U18 AAA playoffs is set for puck drop tonight! For complete schedules and links to the FloHockey broadcasts, check out the Playoffs tab on the U18 AAA website.
