RED DEER – The Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL) celebrated the progress made by the league in its inaugural season and developed new initiatives for the 2021-22 season at its Annual General Meeting on May 27.
In preparation for the 2020-21 season, the AEHL launched new website platforms in partnership with HockeyTech, and offered fans a livestream service through HockeyTV. The league also partnered with InStat, a statistic and analytic platform, to ensure each team received accurate and consistent statistics throughout the season,
The AEHL undertook new initiatives to recognize current and past players through the “Rinkside” and “Alumni of the Month” features. With limited competition able to be played due to COVID-19 restrictions, the initiatives highlighted how players were staying motivated and continuing to make hockey a part of their lives.
Looking ahead to the 2021-22 season, players from across the AEHL’s three divisions (U15 AAA, U16 AAA and U18 AAA) will participate in a showcase weekend. The AEHL is also planning to implement the following:
- U15 AAA and U16 AAA will play 34 regular season games with U18 AAA playing 38 games.
- Regular season games that end in a tie after regulation will go to a five minute, 3-on-3, overtime period.
- All three divisions will play an unbalanced regular season schedule with a focus on regional play.
- Post-season play will consist of a new format in all three divisions.
Sixty-one teams participated in the virtual meeting that would normally be held in-person.
For more information, visit the AEHL websites at: aehl.ca, u18aaa.ca, u16aaa.ca, or u15aaa.ca.