Circle K Classic prepares for biggest U18 AAA tournament in event history – Calgary

Calgary Northwest Flames captain Aidan LaRose isn’t the only one who may find themselves on edge as Calgary’s legendary U18 AAA hockey tournament prepares to return to the ice.

“I think we have a very good shot at the Macs — oh, Circle K!”

The new name may take some getting used to, but the sentiment is the same.

“I think our biggest goal this year is to take it all in,” LaRose added. “I think the experience is just as cool as winning it.”

The Circle K Classic, formerly known as the Mac’s Hockey Tournament, is heating up with the largest field in the tournament’s 44-year history.

Thirty-two teams from Canada, the United States and Europe will duke it out for U18 AAA dominance over 76 games.

Local players like LaRose got a taste of the tournament with the Mac’s reboot in April, but are looking forward to another chance.

“Growing up with the Macs, I used to go to them with my dad all the time,” LaRose recalled. “I remember actually watching the team from Hungary… So now it’s even more fun to be in it and play against them.”

The expanded roster also promises more meaningful hockey.

Teams that do not make it out of their initial pool will still have a shot at the ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ division titles, another holdover from the scrapped April event.

“The teams said: ‘Hey, now I’m not playing for the title. But I still go to the ‘D’ final, the ‘C’ final, which makes them play longer and kind of make it their trip to Calgary,” said Circle K Classic General Manager Jesse Hale. “If they pay $50,000 to come from Connecticut, let’s play more than three games, meaningful games.”

For the second year, the tournament will also feature academy teams such as Calgary’s Edge School and defending champion South Alberta Hockey Academy.

“(SAHA) was actually a late addition. They weren’t even the team most people would have put their money on,” Hale said. “I think it just shows the equality of all the leagues and all the different countries and states. Ontario, we’ll see how they do too. Then Hungary is a real wildcard – we don’t know what we’re going to see.”

The Calgary Buffaloes will undoubtedly have a target on their back entering the tournament.

The AEHL powerhouse leads the league with a dazzling 16-0-1-1 record.

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Captain Lucas Magowan hopes to follow in some family skating footsteps.

“I used to see my brother play in it, so I grew up with it,” Magowan said. “He was on the team that won that one (2019) here, so super cool to be on.”

Games will take place at Max Bell Arena and the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex on Tsuut’ina Nation.

The Circle K Classic runs from December 27, 2022 to January 1, 2023.

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