RED DEER – Fourteen AFHL U13 teams are preparing for puck drop to kickstart the 2024 playoffs.
The first round begins on Friday, March 8 when all 14 teams take to the ice for game one in their respective series. Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) will take place March 9 and 10.
All eyes will be on the undefeated, top-ranked Lloydminster Western Financial Steelers as they head into playoffs as the top seed in the North Division with a 24-0 record (48 points). The Steelers scored nearly eight goals per game (181 total) while posting a +131-goal differential as they only allowed 50 goals. St. Albert Raiders Bolts were second in the division and the overall league standings with 37 points and a +75-goal differential.
Calgary Fire Black were the first-place finishers in the South Division going 15-5 along with four ties. They were followed closely by Calgary Fire Red, one point back with 33. The Airdrie Lightning finished third with 32 points.
St. Albert Raiders Bolts had the two leading scorers this season as Whitney MacMillan and Norah Ludlow finished head and shoulders above the rest of the pack. MacMillan registered 68 goals and 106 points, good for 4.42 points per game while Ludlow finished the season with 75 points, 26 points ahead of the third leading scorer. Calgary Fire White’s Sawyer Gillings finished second in goals with 37. Sherwood Park Monarchs goaltender Maddox Mohr was the league leader in wins with 15 and Calgary Fire Black’s Peyton Lane had the best goals-against-average (1.63) and save percentage (.951), and was tied with Alexandra Seminuk of Calgary Fire Red with most shutouts at five.
All series are best-of-three. The first-round matchups are as follows:
North Division Quarterfinals:
Lloydminster Western Financial Steelers vs North Central Impact
St. Albert Raiders Bolts vs Lakeland Panthers
Norlan Ram PCFAC Storm vs Edmonton Ice White
Edmonton Ice Blue vs Camrose Wildcats
South Division Quarterfinals:
Calgary Fire Black vs Southern Express
Airdrie Lightning vs Rocky Mountain Raiders
Calgary Fire White vs Central Alberta Twins
For complete schedules and game updates, check out the Playoffs tab on the U13 AA website.