The Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) has released the schedule for the 2023 Exhibition Season and 2023-24 Regular Season, and the Dragons will be taking the ice on August 30 against the Calgary Canucks in exhibition.
The 60th anniversary season of the AJHL will debut a new schedule format with the league moving away from divisional play and to a balanced schedule.
All 16-member teams will play each other four times in the regular season plus an additional two games against select opponents at the Annual AJHL Showcase in the new 62-game schedule. The 2023 Exhibition Season will include 44 games beginning on August 24th, followed by the 2023-24 Regular Season opening on September 15th.
The Dragons will play in six exhibition games against Viterra South Division teams before the regular season begins for the team on Friday, September 15 when they head north to play the Bonnyville Pontiaces. They will play Lloydminster on September 16 and then Blackfalds on September 19.
Their regular season home opener will be on Friday, September 22 when they host the Whitecourt Wolverines in the Dragons Den.
The 2023 AJHL Showcase, hosted by the Calgary Canucks, will be held from September 27th-30th at the Ken Bracko Arena in Max Bell Centre. A full event schedule, as well as opportunities for local hockey teams, fans and volunteers will be announced on July 17.. The annual showcase draws coaches and scouts from each National Hockey League team, the NCAA, Canadian colleges and universities and the Canadian Hockey League.
Nine AJHL teams will fill their arena as hosts of a Hockey Hooky Game throughout the regular season in partnership with local schools. The AJHL will also host several holiday games, including six Family Day match-ups, and games on Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day and New Year’s.
The 2024 AJHL Playoffs begin on Friday, March 8th with an updated playoff format. The top fourteen teams will qualify for the 2024 AJHL Playoffs and the top two teams will receive a bye in Round One. Each round will be a best-of-seven series with the first-place team playing the lowest place team.
The Alberta Junior Hockey League will continue to implement a four-man referee system at all AJHL regular season and playoff games in the 2023-24 season. The Alberta Junior Hockey League will also introduce a pilot program for video review on goals at specific AJHL arenas across the province. The project will be reviewed at the conclusion of the season for the purpose of expanding the program.

The Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) held the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Board of Governors as well as the Annual AJHL General Managers and Coaches Meeting in Canmore, AB from May 25th-27th. The Alberta Junior Hockey League is preparing to celebrate its 60th Anniversary in the 2023-24 season.
A new schedule format will be executed in the 2023-24 season with the League moving away from divisional play and to a balanced schedule. All 16 member teams will play each other four times in the regular season plus an additional two games against select opponents at the Annual AJHL Showcase in the new 62-game schedule. The Calgary Canucks will host the 2023 AJHL Showcase at Ken Bracko Arena in September. The complete League Schedule will be announced in mid-June 2023.
Hockey Canada has approved a new facemask policy for all Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) teams. Beginning in the 2023-24 season and in every season afterwards, CJHL players born after December 31st, 2004 must wear full facial protection during participation in all on-ice activities. The birth year and player ages who will be mandated to wear full face protection is outlined as follows: (CJHL players, leagues and teams may opt in earlier)
• 2023-2024 season - 16, 17 and 18 year old players (2005/2006/2007 birth years)
• 2024-2025 season - 16, 17, 18 and 19 year old players (2005/2006/2007/2008 birth years)
• 2025-2026 season - all players must wear full facial protection
The Alberta Junior Hockey League will continue to implement a four-man referee system at all AJHL regular season and playoff games in the 2023-24 season. The League has increased the number of games utilizing the four-man system each season with the 2022-23 season being the first for all games.
The Alberta Junior Hockey League will introduce a pilot program for video review on goals at specific AJHL arenas across the province. The project will be reviewed at the conclusion of the season for the purpose of expanding the program.
The AJHL Management Committee for 2023-24 will include Blake Parker (Olds Grizzlys), Kevin Pratt (Camrose Kodiaks) and Wayne Lauinger (Okotoks Oilers) as the South Division representatives. The North Division will be represented by Ray Mildenberger (Grande Prairie Storm), David Fitzgerald (Fort McMurray Oil Barons) and Jeff Suggitt (Spruce Grove Saints). Special thanks to Noel Moriyama (Brooks Bandits) and Kevin Love (Sherwood Park Crusaders) for completing their terms on the Management Committee.
The Alberta Junior Hockey League is operating under the direction of Chairman Greg Wood and Commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk, as well as Charla Flett (Executive Director), Fran Gow (Vice President, Hockey Operations), Curtis Nichols (Vice President, Officiating) and Dean Laschowski (Video Review Manager).
The AJHL Board of Governors will hold the 2023 AJHL Semi-Annual Meeting on November 22nd, 2023.