MYHockey News
Weekend Preview for Dec. 27 - Jan. 1: The Circle K Classic
Scores & Records Updated Dec. 30 at 1:24 p.m. EST
The weekend between Christmas and New Year’s Day always offers fewer big tournaments than most hockey weekends throughout the season, but it does bring us one of the highest-profile events of the year.
And the fact that there aren’t many other events going on makes this tournament seem almost larger than life. So does the outstanding tournament field.
The puck drops on the annual Circle K Classic in Calgary, the longest-running U18 AAA tournament in Western Canada, at noon EST Friday, Dec. 27. Pool play runs from Dec. 27 to Dec. 29, with the playoff rounds being contested Dec. 30 to Jan. 1.
This year’s Classic features five top 10 Canada Boys U18 AAA teams and four top 20 USA Boys 18U teams. There are a pair of top 10 American teams in Calgary and nine top 25 Canadian teams. There are 32 totals teams grouped in eight four-team pools, with 16 games played per day until the playoffs begin.
The tournament also offers a new format in 2024, providing more teams an opportunity to capture the coveted Circle K Classic Championship.
In 2022, the tournament format was altered slightly to allow for 32 teams, up from 25. Since then, only one team from each pool has advanced past the round-robin stage to compete for the gold medal in the “A” Division. This year, however, the top two teams from each of the eight pools will advance and compete for the championship. With two additional games added to the schedule, the new format increases the level of competition and ensures that 16 teams will now vie for a spot in the prestigious “A” Division final.
“This new format is a game-changer,” Hockey Calgary’s Executive Director Kevin Kobelka said in a release announcing the tournament pool placements. “It reflects our commitment to providing more opportunities for teams to showcase their skills and compete at the highest level without being knocked out from a slow tournament start. Fans can expect even more intense and exciting matchups this year.”
The daily schedule runs from noon until midnight Eastern time. Shattuck-St. Mary’s, the top-ranked USA Boys 18U Tier 1 team, returns to defend its 2023 championship along with America’s No. 8 Bishop Kearney Selects. Trying to block the Sabres’ path to another title are Canada’s top-ranked Northern Alberta Xtreme, No. 3 Calgary Edge School, No. 9 Calgary NWCAA Flames and No. 10 Burnaby Winter Club Academy. There are a total of nine U.S. teams competing, along with 23 clubs representing Canada and Team Hungary.
Games are being played at the Max Bell Centre and 7 Chiefs Arena and can be viewed live or on-demand via FloHockey.
Circle K Classic Tournament Program
Circle K Classic Tournament History
Complete Tournament Schedule, Results & Live Updates
Below are the pools for this year’s Circle K Classic. Canadian and U.S. rankings are current for Week 14 of the 2024-25 season.
Pool 1
#25 Cariboo Cougars - 2W, 1OTW, 1L, 5 pts
#46 Sioux Falls Power - 2W, 1OTL, 7 pts
# 31 Okotoks Oilers - 1W, 1OTL, 1L, 4 pts
#27 Victory Honda - 1W, 1OTW, 2L, 2 pts
Top Pool 1 Matchup
Dec. 28, 8:15 p.m. EST at 7 Chiefs 2
#25 Cariboo Cougars (3), #27 Victory Honda (0)
Jaxon Larmand had a goal and an assist, while Jaxon Dikur stopped all 30 shots he faced for the Cougars.
Pool 2
# 26 OHA Edmonton - 0W, 1OTL, 2L, 1 pt
#26 Phoenix Jr. Coyotes - 2W, 1L, 5 pts
#72 Regina Pat Canadians - 3W, 0L, 9 pts
#89 Calgary Royals - 1W, 1OTW, 2L, 2 pts
Top Pool 2 Matchup
Dec. 27, 12:00 p.m. EST at 7 Chiefs 2
#26 OHA Edmonton (1), #26 Phoenix Jr. Coyotes (3)
Max Edwards, Nicholas Kondub and Hayden Hastings scored for Phoenix, while Connor MacKenzie made 23 saves.
Pool 3
#51 Chicago Mission - 0W, 3L, 0 pts
#24 Edmonton Jr. Oilers Blue - 2W, 1L, 6 pts
#3 Edge School - 3W, 0L, 9 pts
#51 Fraser Valley Thunderbirds - 1W, 2L, 3 pts
Top Pool 3 Matchup
Dec. 29, 12:00 p.m. EST at Max Bell 2
#3 Edge School (5), #24 Edmonton Jr. Oilers Blu (4)
Mirco Dufour scored the game-winning goal with 1:47 left to make a winner out of goalie Ryley Budd (22 saves). Dufour and Jeff Niehaus scored two goals apiece for Edge, and Edmonton netminder Nathan Salisbury stopped 42 shots
Pool 4
#10 Burnaby Winter Club Academy - 2W, 1L, 6 pts
#72 Boston Hockey Academy - 1W, 2L, 3 pts
#9 Calgary NWCAA Flames - 1W, 2L, 3 pts
#40 Halifax McDonald's - 2W, 1L, 6 pts
Top Pool 4 Matchup
Dec. 29, 12:30 p.m. EST at 7 Chiefs 1
#9 Calgary NW Flames (2), Burnaby Winter Club Academy (3)
Calgary scored twice during a 23-second span in the final two minutes of the third period to make the game interesting. Richard Wonyeneh, Kadyn O'Brien and Max Malinousky scored to stake Burnaby to a 3-0 lead before the comeback. Noah Ninagowitz made 29 saves for the winners.
Pool 5
#8 Bishop Kearney Selects - 3W, 0L, 9 pts
#62 Moose Jaw Warriors - 2W, 1L, 6 pts
#4 OHA Penticton - 1W, 2L, 3 pts
#33 Calgary CNHA Northstars - 0W, 3L, 0 pts
Top Pool 5 Matchup
Dec. 29, 8:45 p.m. EST at Max Bell 1
#4 OHA Penticton (1), #8 BK Selects (3)
BK scored twice in the third period to break a 1-1 tie and earn the victory. Nolan Beauchain, Konner Powell and Konstantin Huntzinger scored for the Selects, with goalie Sammy Doyon-Cataquiz making 16 saves.
Pool 6
#1 Shattuck St. Mary's - 3W, 0L, 9 pts
#14 Sherwood Park Kings - 1W, 2L, 3 pts
#20 Valley West Giants - 0W, 3L, 0 pts
#11 Calgary International Hockey Academy - 2W, 1L, 6 pts
Pool 6 Top Matchup
Dec. 27, 6:00 p.m. EST at 7 Chiefs 1
#1 Shattuck-St. Mary’s (9), #11 CIHA (3)
Nolan Caffey notched two goals and two assists, with Noah Davidson adding two goals and an assist for Shattuck. Jackson Silverberg stopped 16 shots to earn the win in goal.
Pool 7
#20 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite - 2W, 1L, 6 pts
N/A Team Hungary - 0W, 3L, 0 pts
#1 Northern Alberta Xtreme - 3W, 0L, 9 pts
#59 Calgary Buffaloes - 1W, 2L, 3 pts
Pool 7 Top Matchup
Dec. 27, 9:15 p.m. EST at Max Bell 2
#1 Northern Alberta Xtreme (5), #20 Pens Elite (2)
Five different players scored for NAX, but Ben Deacon led the way with a goal and three assists while Jake Walker added a goal and an assist. Nathan Stevens was the winning goalie with 32 saves.
Pool 8
# 36 Airdrie Bisons - 2W, 1SOL, 0L, 7 pts
#32 Edmonton Jr. Oilers Orange - 0W, 3L, 0 pts
#21 Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna - 2W, 1SOW, 1OTL, 6 pts
#14 St. Louis AAA Blues - 2W, 1OTW, 1L, 5 pts
Top Pool 8 Matchup
Dec. 27, 8:15 p.m. EST at 7 Chiefs 2
#14 St. Louis AAA Blues (4), #21 RHA Kelowna (3) - OT
Logan Petlansky scored the game-winning goal at 2:39 of the extra period as the Blues came back for the win. Braden Tillitt scored his second goal of the game with 5:03 left in regulation and also asssited on the winner. Marcus Johnson was the winner in goal with 29 saves.
CLICK HERE for the Dec. 30 playoff schedule
CLICK HERE for the Dec. 30 consolation schedule
