AUS Hockey Keeps Getting Stronger

Could this be a breakout year for Benjamin Breault and the Dal Tigers?

CIS hockey has slowly and steadily been increasing its relevance on the Canadian hockey scene. More and more CHL graduates are seeking a way to keep playing hockey at a high level and choosing the CIS as the place to do it.

Friday night marks the start of the 2011-12 season in the AUS and once again there are multiple National Championship contenders in the Atlantic University Hockey Conference. It seems that everyone in the league has gotten better, making for greater parity and tougher competition on a nightly basis.

Yarmouth Set to Host World Junior A Challenge in 2012

Yarmouth, Nova Scotia has been officially awarded the 2012 World Junior A Challenge by Hockey Canada. The event will take place November 5-11, 2012 at the Mariners Centre. The Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners Hockey Club will work with the Canadian Junior Hockey League, Maritime Hockey League, Town of Yarmouth, Municipality of Yarmouth, Municipality of Argyle, Yarmouth Minor Hockey Association, Hockey Nova Scotia and Events Nova Scotia to host the international event.

“This is the culmination of a lot of hard work on behalf of our team and our community and I want to thank everyone who has helped us in this effort,” said Mitch Bonnar, president of the Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners. “But, this is only the beginning. We look forward to putting our best foot forward and to hosting a World Junior A Challenge the way only this community can.”

“Our community is not only proud to be hosting this prestigious event, but we are also looking forward to sharing our culture and our way of life with all the participants and visitors to our region,” said Phil Mooney, mayor of the Town of Yarmouth.

“Canada’s Junior A leagues continue to develop world-class players, and the 2012 World Junior A Challenge will be a terrific showcase for that talent,” said Bob Nicholson, president and CEO of Hockey Canada. “We are excited to work with the Canadian Junior Hockey League, Yarmouth Jr A Mariners Hockey Club and numerous local groups on another World Junior A Challenge and continue the growth of the event.”

The selection was made during Hockey Canada’s annual general meeting last week in Calgary. Langley, BC is set to host the 2011 tournament.

The 2012 World Junior A Challenge will follow the same format as other years – two Canadian entries, Canada East and Canada West, will be joined by teams from the United States and Europe. The United States team won the 2010 edition of the Challenge held in Penticton, BC, defeating Canada East 6-4 in the finals. Nova Scotia’s own Troy Ryan, recently hired to coach the St. Thomas University Tommies, was general manager of the Canada east team.

Over 800 players, coaches, Hockey Canada staff, media, scouts, Canadian Junior Hockey League officials, friends and family are expected to descend upon the region during the event.

AUS-ome Hockey

V-Reds Defencemen Taylor Procyshen

It boasts the defending National Champions, the # 1 ranked team for most of last year and and five teams that have been ranked in the Top Ten this year, and its teams have just recently finished a successful Hoiliday exhibition season. The Atlantic University Sport Conference has become the powerhouse of university hockey in the country.

The UNB Varisty Reds have been the class of CIS Hockey for the past few seasons. They were a favourite to claim the National Championship last year, and third title in four years, before they were upset by St. FX X-Men in the playoffs. This parity or ability of practically any team (sorry STU, not yet) to win on any given night is a trademark of the toughest conference in university hockey.

Last year, following the upset of the V-Reds, it was the Saint Mary’s Huskies that went on to capture the National Championship. The fourth National Championship in seven years for the AUS.

This season has seen the favourites take their usual spots at the top of the conference. UNB leads the way with an 11-4-0 record, while Saint Mary’s is right behind them with a 10-4-1 mark.

But the comfort zone between them and the next set of teams has all but been erased.

Puck Set to Drop on New AUS Hockey Season

The conference includes the defending National Champions, last year’s regular season champs who were at the top of the national rankings for most of last year, two other teams consistently in the National top 10 and younger teams that have improved their rosters and gained another year of experience.

The CIS National Champion Saint Mary’s Huskies make long trek down the street to Memorial Arena to face the Dalhousie Tigers in the season opener.

Yours truly will be calling the game along with Bill MacLean of Haligonia Sports for SSN Canada. Click on their logo to watch all the action.

SMU will be without a couple of players that were instrumental in their run to the CIS title last year, but still possess a strong squad. Dalhousie has a young team, but has added a number of skilled players coming out of the Major Junior hockey ranks and looks to be a tougher to team to play.

AUS Hockey is somewhat underappreciated. The quality of hockey is at the highest level and features a lot very skilled players that have graduated from Major Junior. Remember if you can’t get out to the game check us out online at SSN Canada.

Glen MacDonald from the Chronicle Herald offered a nice little look of the AUHC clubs and what to expect in this upcoming season.