The more, the merrier … right?
Especially when it comes to Calgary’s world-renowned Christmas hockey tournament?
So the 2024-25 Circle K Classic is doing just that, adding a couple of games — to put more teams into the championship mix — for this year’s edition of the under-18 tournament, which begins Dec. 27 and runs through Jan. 1 at Max Bell and 7 Chiefs Sportsplex.
“We’re staying with 32 teams, but the one complaint was if you lost one game of the round robin, you couldn’t play for the ‘A’ Division final,” said Kevin Kobelka, a Circle K Classic committee member and the executive director of Hockey Calgary, during Monday night’s news conference at Veranda At The Stables.
“So we’ve changed it slightly this year that 16 teams are going to get into the ‘A’ Division playoffs, and there’s going to be a Sweet 16 — or an elimination round — ahead of the quarterfinals and the semifinals.”
That’s a big change after having allowed only the eight pool winners to advance into the ‘A’ playoffs during the last few Circle Ks …
Since COVID and the hard reset of the annual event, really.
WHO WANTED THIS CHANGE?
“We canvassed the coaches coach last year and told them, ‘We can do it — all it would take is to add two games,’” continued Kobelka. “But the caveat is, it’s like the old days … on December 31st, top teams have got to play a quarter and a semi on the same day. That was the trade-off.
“So it’s take your pick. guys. And most of them wanted the shot of getting the top 16 in the ‘A’ Division. So that’s what we did.
“So for that team that has the one bad game coming off the bus or whatever, now they got a second shot, a second life.”
It is the biggest shift for this year’s event.
But the new year brings big new storylines, as well …
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Renna Trembecky, goalie, 17 years old
• For only the second time at the Circle K/Mac’s, a female goaltender will take the ice.
Trembecky is helping to backstop the Sherwood Park Ennis Fabrics Kings of the Alberta Elite Hockey League’s Under-18AAA Division.
“Her and her goaltending partner (Connor Knorr) are the top two goalies, holding the top goals-against average (1.81 and 1.74) in the whole Alberta Elite Hockey League.”
It was also the Kings who showcased future Team Canada stalwart Shannon Szabados — then 15 — as their goalie during the 2001 Mac’s AAA Hockey Tournament.
Maddox Schultz, forward, 14 years old
Another talent potentially seeking exceptional player status is slated to be a must-see at the Circle K.
Schultz of the Regina Pat Canadians is that prodigy, coming here a year after Calgary’s Landon DuPont, with the Edge School Mountaineers, turned heads at the tourney before being granted exceptional player status to join the Western Hockey League a year before general eligibility.
“Maddox Schultz is the only 2010-born player in the tournament this year,” Kobelka said. “He’s leading scoring in the Saskatchewan league — by a lot — as a 14-year-old. Landon DuPont was the tournament MVP here as a 14-year-old last year.
“Regina looks to be a very competitive team, and he seems to be leading that team. So he’ll be a player to watch over the week.”
TEAMS TO WATCH
Shattuck-St. Mary’s
Minnesota’s Shattuck-St. Mary’s returns as the defending kings, having topped the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 3-0 in last year’s final.
“Shattuck’s back, they’re defending, they’re the odds-on favourite …” agreed Kobelka of the five-time Circle K/Mac’s champs. “They have lost some games leading up to the tournament this year. Last year, they hadn’t lost a game coming in.
“They’ll be good. Maybe as good as last year.”
All told, Shattuck-St. Mary’s — the defending USA Hockey high school prep champion — leads a nine-team American contingent at the event.
Calgary International Hockey Academy
Making its debut in this year’s Circle K is Calgary International Hockey Academy, housed at WinSport.
The team is set to make its splash as the city’s newest sports-school side making the grade for the event, joining Edge from the Canadian Sports School Hockey League.
“They got in on the last weekend,” said Kobelka of CIHA. “We have eight Calgary and area teams. One of those will be in each pool, so you get a chance to see all the Calgary-area teams.”
And you’ll get a chance to see the growing rivalry between high-school sports schools and the club teams, when they square off in this event.
Calgary NW Flames, Airdrie Bisons, Calgary Northstars
As for the Calgary contingent, the Calgary United Pacific Projects NW Flames lead the way into the event with the Airdrie CFR Bisons and the Calgary Northstars — all with a South Division-best 25 points in the AEHL’s U18AAA standings.
Next up are the Okotoks Bow Mark Oilers, with 24, followed by the Calgary Royals, with 16, and the Calgary Cannex Buffaloes, with 14.
“The Northstars have had a few soft years, but they’re back up near the front,” Kobelka said. “I think the Flames are actually our top team as of today, but the North Stars are right there and having a good year and a much-improved team this year.”
A reconfiguration of borders at the community level a few years back has helped to balance the four Calgary U18AAA clubs.
“Looks great on us,” confirmed Kobelka, of having more parity among the top club teams. “I think we’ve done a good job developing our feeder systems and balancing our boundaries so that everybody has the same access to players.
“I think it’s been good to see all four of our associations be competitive from one year to the other. That means we’re doing a good job around the city of developing all the players.”
COAST-TO-COAST REPRESENTATION
The Halifax McDonalds debut from the Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League.
Two teams rep the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League. Three clubs fly the BC Elite Hockey League banner. There are seven CSSHL squads. The AEHL representation is nine teams deep.
And returning Team Hungary is the only overseas side.
“We’ve got a bunch of new teams in this year,” added Kobelka. “There’s a team from South Dakota — the Sioux Falls Power.
“And we have a team out of Boston — the Boston Academy.”
POOL 1
Okotoks Bow Mark Oilers (AEHL)
Detroit Victory Honda (USA)
Cariboo Cougars (BCEHL)
Sioux Falls Power (USA)
POOL 2
Calgary Royals (AEHL)
Phoenix Jr. Coyotes (USA)
Regina Pat Canadians (SMAAAHL)
OHA Edmonton (CSSHL)
POOL 3
Edge School (CSSHL)
Edmonton Jr. Oilers Blue (AEHL)
Chicago Mission (USA)
Fraser Valley Thunderbirds (BCEHL)
POOL 4
Calgary UPP NW Flames (AEHL)
Boston Academy (USA)
Halifax McDonald’s (NSU18MHL)
BWC Academy (CSSHL)
POOL 5
Calgary Northstars (AEHL)
Bishop Kearney Selects (USA)
Moose Jaw Warriors (SMAAAHL)
OHA Penticton (CSSHL)
POOL 6
CIHA (CSSHL)
Sherwood Park Kings (AEHL)
Shattuck-St. Mary’s (USA)
Valley West Giants (BCEHL)
POOL 7
Calgary Buffaloes (AEHL)
Pittsburgh Pens Elite (USA)
Team Hungary (Europe)
Northern Alberta Xtreme (CSSHL)
POOL 8
Airdre CFR Bisons (AEHL)
St. Louis Blues (USA)
Edmonton Jr. Oilers Orange (AEHL)
Rink Kelowna (CSSHL)
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