The AEHL’s U15AA Division has completed their regional playoffs and now look towards the 2025 Provincial Championships, taking place in Calgary from March 20-23. Read below for each conference champion’s path through the playoffs.
Metro Conference – St. Albert Bears
The St. Albert Bears went a perfect 3-0-0 in round robin play in their Regional Division pool, setting themselves up for a semi-final matchup against the SPKAC Sabres. They won their matchup 9-3, then faced off in a thrilling Regional Division final against the Leduc Roughnecks, coming out on top 5-4 thanks to a game winning goal in the late stages of the game from Zack Ruptash. They then faced off in a best-of-three series against the Capital Division champions, SSAC Innovation Physio, where they won two straight games by a one goal margin, including one in overtime, to sweep SSAC and punch their ticket to Calgary. Ruptash led the way with a combined 22 points in round robin and playoff game play.
Rural Conference – Lloydminster Blazers
Lloydminster also went 3-0-0 in round robin play in their East Division pool, where they then faced a hard battle against the Strathcona Warriors in the semi-finals. It took triple overtime to get the the job done, but Kai Doetzel was the hero in the early stages of the period, booking a trip to the East Division final against a tough Lakeland Panthers squad. The Blazers once again came out victorious in a 2-1 win against the Panthers, and were set for a Rural Conference showdown against the North Division champions, the GPAC Iron Slinger Storm. The Blazers handled the Storm with ease, sweeping them in two games by scores of 6-2 and 6-3, and now look to become provincial champions.
South Conference – Okotoks Oilers
After finishing first in round robin play with a record of 4-0-0, the Oilers went on to defeat the SEAC Tigers in their semi-final matchup by a score of 8-3, sending them to a South Division final matchup against the Wheatland Warriors. The Warriors struck first, but goals from Clark Galos and Bennett Nixon in the second period got the job done, giving the Oilers a 2-1 victory, where they would then go up against the Central Division champions, the Central Alberta Selects. The Selects took game one by a score of 5-4, but the Oilers were persistent in the next two games, tying the series by a score of 3-2, following it up with a series-clinching 7-6 win to earn the South Conference title. Oilers forward Cody Carson led his squad with 18 points throughout the playoffs.
Calgary – CBHA Rangers
The Rangers played hard and it paid off. Coming first in their pool in round robin play, the Rangers were then relentless against the CNHA Gold squad in their quarterfinal matchup, winning by a score of 10-2, including a five-point game from Chase Collens. The Rangers then faced a familiar foe in the CBHA Hawks, the hosts of the U15AA Provincials, and took them down 5-1 in their semifinal matchup to set up a finals showdown against CNHA Green. Thanks to two goals each from Collens and Drew Hanley, the Rangers came out victorious and were named Calgary’s playoff champion, who now await their first game in the 2025 Provincials.
Check out all the playoff matchups from these playoffs here. The 2025 U15AA Provincials, hosted by the CBHA Hawks, begin on March 20.
