OLDS — The Town of Olds' chief administrative officer is confident the Olds Grizzlys can be accommodated as the team sees post-season action for the first time in years.
The Alberta Junior Hockey League announced a new format that will see the Grizzlys enter a play-in series for a chance to be in the playoffs.
Under this plan, the Grizzlys’ regular season ended March 2.
At that point, the top five teams automatically advanced to the 2024 Inter Pipeline Cup AJHL Playoffs. The bottom six teams square off in a best of five play-in series.
In that play-in series, the sixth-place team will play the 11th-place team, the seventh-place team will play the 10th place team and the eighth-place team will play the ninth-place team.
Winners of the play-in series will fill spots six through eight in the opening round of the AJHL playoffs.
The Olds Grizzlys start its play-in series against Grande Prairie Thursday night in Grande Prairie.
Game 1 on Thursday and Game 2 on Friday are scheduled to be held in Grande Prairie at 7 p.m. Game 3 will be held Sunday, March 10 at the Sportsplex in Olds, starting at 5 p.m.
If the Grizzlys push the series to a fourth game, it would also be held in Olds on Monday, March 11 at 7 p.m.
A fifth and deciding game if necessary would be held in Grande Prairie on Wednesday, March 13.
Round 1 of the Inter Pipeline Cup AJHL Playoffs will begin the weekend of March 15-17 and will be a best-of-seven series.
In an email to Olds chief administrative officer Brent Williams and community services director Lorraine O’Brien, the Albertan noted that for several years, the Grizzlys have not played in the post-season, thus freeing up the main ice surface for lacrosse or other sports.
In light of that, Williams and O’Brien were asked if town staff are ready for this new format that will see the Grizzlys back in post-season play.
Williams said he was confident the town could make the schedule fit its ice availability and that staff can handle the additional games.
“The Grizzlys have been a community pillar for decades and any opportunity to extend the schedule is a benefit to the team and to the community.”
