Spruce Grove Saints Gear Up for First⁣ Full Season in BCHL

The Spruce Grove Saints ⁢are preparing ⁢for their first full season ‍in the British​ Columbia Hockey League (BCHL)⁢ after being expelled from the Alberta Junior Hockey⁣ League (AJHL)‍ midway through last ⁢season.

The Saints were one⁢ of five Alberta teams penalized by the AJHL in January as rumors circulated that they‌ would⁢ join the BCHL at the end of the season. The team has been a member of the AJHL‌ for 60 years, and the⁢ team’s head coach is preparing the club for a new chapter in the franchise’s ⁤long history.

“We had a very competitive training camp with some really good players,” Ryan Marsh said. “We did a really good job of recruiting solid freshmen to the team, and now we have some really healthy competition, so my job is tough, but⁣ that’s what we want.”

A Higher Level of Competition

One of the attractive aspects of the ​BCHL is⁤ the perceived higher level of competition. The independent league allows teams to have up to 20 out-of-province players, two of whom can be from outside North America.

“We’re basically⁤ recruiting the best‌ players in North America who want ‍to play in the NCAA,” Marsh⁤ said. “It’s a great level of hockey.”

More Opportunities for Players

The rising level of hockey could lead to more opportunities for players. “When you have a higher level of players, and you have all these high-level players in one‍ league, you get a lot more attention from all the ⁢NCAA schools,” Saints center Ryan⁣ Johnstone​ said.

“We’re ‍getting a lot more attention this year than we did last year when we made that move.”

A New Chapter for the ⁤Saints

“I’m excited⁣ to join ‍the BCHL and look forward to some great competition for me and my teammates,” ‌Saints forward Ethan Kronewitt added.

The Saints‌ hope to ⁣continue drawing the‌ Spruce ⁢Grove community to their games as they begin this new chapter. “The fans at Spruce ⁢Grove are probably the best in junior hockey,” Kronewit said.

“They come out every​ night and ‍cheer for us, and we really appreciate that.”

The Black⁢ False Bulldogs, Brooks ⁤Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, and Sherwood Park Crusaders are the other‍ four teams that left the AJHL to join the BCHL.

Includes⁣ files from Slav Kornik, Global ⁢Sports