North Division Semifinals
Both series in the North Division semifinals went to a decisive Game 3. The Edmonton Jr. Oilers Orange were shut out in the series opener by the St. Albert Raiders but made a dramatic comeback by winning the second game 2-1 in overtime, thereby tying the series. In Game 3, the Oilers Orange doubled up on the Raiders, winning 6-3 to advance to the North Division Finals. The Sherwood Park Kings lost the first game 3-1 to the Edmonton Jr. Oilers Blue in the other semifinal series. However, the Kings bounced back in the second game, winning 4-1 and tying the series. They carried this momentum into Game 3, securing a series-clinching victory to advance to the North Division Finals.
South Division Semifinals
In the South Division Semifinals, both series ended in sweeps. Despite their best efforts, the underdog Calgary Royals couldn’t sustain their momentum from the first round, losing both second-round games to the division-leading Calgary Flames. In the other South series, the Calgary Buffaloes achieved an upset against the second-place Calgary Northstars, winning both games by a narrow 2-1 margin. They clinched a spot in the division finals in dramatic fashion, concluding the series with an overtime victory.
Round 3 Matchups
North Division Finals
Sherwood Park Kings vs Edmonton Jr. Oilers Orange
South Division Finals
Calgary Flames vs Calgary Buffaloes
Edmonton Jr. Oilers forward Cole Serdachny is the sole leader in playoff points following the second round, having recorded seven points in six games. Calgary Flames forward Nathan Ivey shares the lead in playoff goals with Serdachny, as both players have scored four goals during the first two rounds. Goaltender Connor Knorr of the Sherwood Park Kings leads the playoffs in goals against average, posting an impressive 1.34 in the second round. Meanwhile, Calgary Buffaloes goaltender Jac Carli stands out with a leading save percentage of .961 through the first two rounds.
The third 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.
