Dekker's Corner

 Change has been a constant theme in the AJHL this off-season. This year, the coaching carousel has been spinning rapidly with seven of the league's 12 teams opening up. Today we will look at which jobs became available and how those teams have filled them, if they have filled them. Bonnyville Pontiacs Out: Ayrton Nikkel In: Chad Mercier Ayrton Nikkel lasted one season with the Yaks. The rookie head coach saw the team finish outside the playoffs for the first time since the 2001/02 season, with a record of 20-30-1-3. Bonnyville knew they were going to dress a young roster last season and the inconsistencies showed on a nightly basis. Now the Pontiacs reach to their past for their next head coach. Chad Mercier last coached the team from the 2006/07 campaign to the 2012/13 season. During that time, Mercier compiled a 221-156-41 record with six ties. Mercier won three playoff series during that stretch and reached the 35 win plateau twice. The biggest challenge for Bonnyville will be ...

  Last week I ranked the SJHL rinks from my point of view and I was amazed by the feedback. In one week alone, you all made it one of my most viewed post on Twitter and my most read post. So thank you all for the support! I did promise to do the Alberta Junior Hockey League. A lot has happened since I joined the league. The Oil Barons went through three coaches in two seasons, a general manager and saw a revamping of their board of directors. For the league, it started at 16 teams when I arrived, saw five franchises defect to the BCHL, added a new team via expansion and three other teams went through ownership changes. Of the original 16 teams, I was blessed to get to call games in every one of their rinks at least once. This list will include those five teams, but in an Honorable Mention category. Again, disclaimer, this list is based on my view point as a broadcaster, which will be different from a casual fan. Enjoy!  HM. Brooks - Centennial Regional Arena One of the newest ...

Not all arenas are built the same, obviously. Some are bigger, some have character, some are cookie cutter. As a broadcaster, I feel like we look at rinks in a different lens than most people. That means we have our own opinions on which rinks are better than others. Now, quick disclaimer, this is purely my personal opinion. Just because your rink is lower on this list doesn't mean it's a bad arena. I know some people will defend their home rinks till the earth comes to an end. For me, this is how I rate the rinks in terms of my favorite to broadcast a game to the least, starting with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Stay tuned as I will also do one of the Alberta Junior Hockey League rinks. **Couple quick notes. I know La Ronge is moving to the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Center, while the Notre Dame Hounds are relocating to Warman. For this list, I will be ranking the Mel Hegland Uniplex and Duncan McNeil Arena, respectively, as those are the rinks I've persona...

 It's no secret, the Memorial Cup is one of the hardest trophies in sports to win. First off, you got to get through your 18-22 team league, unless you're the tournament host. Then you got to slug your way through a round robin against the other league champions and win between one to three knockout games. The season starts as a marathon, then turns to a sprint.  I got to attend one Memorial Cup. It was the 100th edition of the tournament held in the Queen City. Regina, Saskatchewan. I was able to take in a pair of games, a high scoring affair between tournament champions Acadia-Bathurst and the hosts Regina. A game where the Titan almost blew a 6-1 lead in the third period (you could feel the anticipation build after each Pats goal). That was a game that featured New York Islander Noah Dobson and Dallas Star Sam Steel. The second game was the polar opposite in terms of goals scored but not in terms of excitement. Stuart Skinner made a then Memorial Cup record 54 saves, howeve...