Five teams who 乌鸦传媒渄efected乌鸦传媒� from the Alberta Junior Hockey League have officially joined the BCHL.

The Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders and Spruce Grove Saints have signed franchise agreements to become members of the BCHL, effective immediately.

乌鸦传媒淲e are pleased to officially welcome these five franchises into the fold as members of our league,乌鸦传媒� said Chris Hebb, the BCHL乌鸦传媒檚 chief executive officer.

乌鸦传媒淎ll five are strong organizations from great communities and we look forward to the immediate boost they will give our league. We were encouraged by their belief in our model and think that adding these teams will strengthen the development of all our players.乌鸦传媒�

The five clubs will engage in competition with each other for the remainder of the 2023-2024 campaign. An 乌鸦传媒淎lberta champion乌鸦传媒� is expected to be crowned in the spring, with an opportunity for that team to meet the B.C. champion in a year-end competition following the BCHL Playoffs, the league said.

乌鸦传媒淲ith the unfortunate situation the Alberta teams have faced in recent weeks with having games cancelled in their previous league, it was imperative to us to get these players back on the ice in meaningful competition,乌鸦传媒� said Steven Cocker, BCHL commissioner.

The league乌鸦传媒檚 announcement comes after it was revealed on Jan. 20 乌鸦传媒� just minutes before the start of all-star weekend in Penticton 乌鸦传媒� that the five teams would be leaving the AJHL to join the BCHL.

Games between the five squads and 11 remaining teams in the AJHL were quickly cancelled, as a result. Junior 乌鸦传媒楢乌鸦传媒� officials in Alberta later said the clubs had 乌鸦传媒渄efected乌鸦传媒� from their league.

乌鸦传媒淲e are disappointed 乌鸦传媒� but not surprised 乌鸦传媒� that the five defecting clubs now intend to drop out of the AJHL to immediately participate in an unsanctioned exhibition series,乌鸦传媒� the AJHL said in a statement on Feb. 1. 乌鸦传媒淔or the past week, they have repeatedly denied any agreement with the BCHL, but today乌鸦传媒檚 admission of 乌鸦传媒榝inalized franchise agreements and integration乌鸦传媒� has helped clarify their true position.乌鸦传媒�

The BCHL乌鸦传媒檚 newest teams begin play Feb. 2, and the schedule can be viewed

Details for the post-season competition will be announced at a later date, the league said.

乌鸦传媒淭his is a historic day for our franchise,乌鸦传媒� said Ryan Papaioannou, the Brook Bandits乌鸦传媒� head coach and general manager. 乌鸦传媒淎fter thorough consideration, we are confident the BCHL gives our players the best opportunity to compete at the highest level for college tracking players in Canada.乌鸦传媒�