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The ”’Circle K Classic”’ (formerly ”’Mac’s Tournament”’ and ”’CP Challenge Cup”’) is an international [[ice hockey]] tournament held annually for [[Minor ice hockey#Age categories|U18]] players in [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]], [[Canada]]. First held in 1978, the tournament features 25 male teams from across Canada, the [[United States]] and [[Europe]].

The ”’Circle K Classic”’ (formerly ”’Mac’s Tournament”’ and ”’CP Challenge Cup”’) is an international [[ice hockey]] tournament held annually for [[Minor ice hockey#Age categories|U18]] players in [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]], [[Canada]]. First held in 1978, the tournament features 25 male teams from across Canada, the [[United States]] and [[Europe]].

The Circle K Classic Tournament begins on December 27 and concludes with the championship game on January 1 ([[New Year’s Day]]). The round robin games are seen by around 3,000 fans, per game, at two local arenas in Calgary. They are the [[Max Bell Centre (Calgary)|Max Bell Centre]], and the 7 Chiefs Sportsplex at the Tsuu T’ina Nation. The main championship game was held at the [[Scotiabank Saddledome]], where it was seen by as many as 10,000 spectators. Overall, the tournament draws in as many as 70,000 spectators over the six days.<ref name=”Midget”>[https://www.circlekclassic.ca/history Official website’s History of Circle K Classic Page]</ref> ”’The tournament has crowned 47 champions as of January 1, 2026.”’

The Circle K Classic Tournament begins on December 27 and concludes with the championship game on January 1 ([[New Year’s Day]]). The round robin games are seen by around 3,000 fans, per game, at two local arenas in Calgary. They are the [[Max Bell Centre (Calgary)|Max Bell Centre]], and the 7 Chiefs Sportsplex at the Tsuu T’ina Nation. The main championship game was held at the [[Scotiabank Saddledome]], where it was seen by as many as 10,000 spectators. Overall, the tournament draws in as many as 70,000 spectators over the six days.<ref name=”Midget”>[https://www.circlekclassic.ca/history Official website’s History of Circle K Classic Page]</ref>

Many of the male players here would have played at their highest point of their ice hockey careers. However, some of them went on to play in the [[National Hockey League]]. These players are recognized by the Circle K Classic tournament officials by having their photos added to the Wall of Fame at the Max Bell Centre.<ref name=”Midget” />

Many of the male players here would have played at their highest point of their ice hockey careers. However, some of them went on to play in the [[National Hockey League]]. These players are recognized by the Circle K Classic tournament officials by having their photos added to the Wall of Fame at the Max Bell Centre.<ref name=”Midget” />

Latest revision as of 04:31, 23 January 2026

Ice hockey tournament in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

The Calgary Buffaloes celebrate after winning the 2008 championship.

The Circle K Classic (formerly Mac’s Tournament and CP Challenge Cup) is an international ice hockey tournament held annually for U18 players in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. First held in 1978, the tournament features 25 male teams from across Canada, the United States and Europe.

The Circle K Classic Tournament begins on December 27 and concludes with the championship game on January 1 (New Year’s Day). The round robin games are seen by around 3,000 fans, per game, at two local arenas in Calgary. They are the Max Bell Centre, and the 7 Chiefs Sportsplex at the Tsuu T’ina Nation. The main championship game was held at the Scotiabank Saddledome, where it was seen by as many as 10,000 spectators. Overall, the tournament draws in as many as 70,000 spectators over the six days.[1]

Many of the male players here would have played at their highest point of their ice hockey careers. However, some of them went on to play in the National Hockey League. These players are recognized by the Circle K Classic tournament officials by having their photos added to the Wall of Fame at the Max Bell Centre.[1]

On January 2, 1989, Petr Nedvěd, who was playing for the champion Chemical Works Litvínov team, left his hotel room in the middle of the night and walked into a Calgary RCMP police station. Once there, he declared his intention to defect from his native country of Czechoslovakia.[2]

The current Circle K Classic tournament starts with eight pools of four male teams each.[3] Each pool is “hosted” by a Calgary area team: the Calgary Flames (AAA), the Calgary Royals, the Calgary Northstars and the Calgary Buffaloes. They all play their ice hockey games in the Alberta Midget Hockey League. All male teams face each other in their respective round robin pools (from December 27 to 29). The pool winners and runners-up advance to the ‘A’ division main championship group. The third place teams in each pool play for the ‘B’ championship and the fourth place teams in each pool play for the ‘C’ title. All of the divisional semi-finals take place on December 31 (New Year’s Eve). From there, the remaining two teams left would play in the championship game on January 1, in order to determine the winner of the tournament.[4]

In the former female division, there were three pools of five teams each. The main female hosts here were the Calgary Fire and the Rocky Mountain Raiders from Okotoks. The top five pool winners each and one wild-card spot advanced to the semifinals. From there, the two remaining female teams went on to play at the championship game, in order to determine the winner of the tournament.[citation needed]

The Circle K Classic championship trophy
  • Note: Numbers in brackets indicated teams that have won more than one Midget AAA World Invitational Tournament championship in their history.

The female division was introduced in 2004. Due to declining registration, the 2017 tournament was the final one that took place.[11]

The following is a partial list of Circle K Classic tourney alumni who have gone on to play in the NHL.[15]

  1. ^ a b Official website’s History of Circle K Classic Page
  2. ^ Hall, Vicki (December 26, 2012). “Czech side coach Sip recalls the day his linemate Nedved defected”. Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on April 25, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  3. ^ Circle K Classic Tournament Standing Page
  4. ^ Official website’s Champions Page
  5. ^ Campbell, Glenn (December 22, 2021). “Calgary’s Mac’s U18 AAA Hockey Tournament cancelled due to pandemic”. CTV News. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  6. ^ Austin, Daniel (September 22, 2020). “Calgary Herald’s Mac’s minor hockey tournament becomes latest COVID-19 casualty”. Calgary Herald. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  7. ^ Vanstone, Rob (January 3, 2018). “Pat Canadians make history at Mac’s tournament”. Regina Leader Post. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Austin, Daniel (January 1, 2017). “Raiders, Belarus win Mac’s Tournament gold”. Calgary Herald. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  9. ^ MacKinnon, Jeff (January 1, 2016). “Midget Flames bring Mac’s trophy home for first time since 1996”. Calgary Herald. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  10. ^ a b c “Mac’s AAA Hockey Tournament : Website by RAMP InterActive”. www.macstournament.ab.ca.
  11. ^ Radford, Evan (September 25, 2018). “Prestigious Calgary hockey tournament suspends female competition due to declining registration”. The Star. Calgary. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  12. ^ Heinen, Laurence (January 2, 2018). “Rocky Mountain Raiders repeat as Mac’s female champs”. Calgary Sun. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  13. ^ “Gallery: Mac’s AAA Midget Girls Final”. Calgary Herald. January 1, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  14. ^ Heinen, Laurence (January 1, 2015). “Star is born as Saskatoon beats Calgary Fire for Mac’s female title”. Calgary Herald. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  15. ^ Circle K Classic MIDGET AAA WORLD INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT WALL OF FAME Page

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