Circle K Classic on tap for Calgary: Northstars, locals load up for annual U18 AAA hockey tournament

Who’s going to raise the Circle K Classic Cup on New Year’s Day 2026?

Locals are hoping it’s one of their own teams, of course, to halt a five-year run of co-hosts not claiming the world-renowned hockey honour.

That would be oh-so nice for fans, players and the puck community around here.

“Hopefully this year is different,” agreed Calgary Northstars head coach Marcus Cheng, ahead of Saturday’s start to the six-day under-18 AAA holiday tournament. “Our (Alberta) league is a tight one again this year, but I think we got some good Calgary teams this year that can make some noise.

“So hopefully, all four of us have a good showing.”

The Calgary UPP Flames are the front-runners among tourney co-hosts, with a two-loss record (17-2-0-1-2) leading into puck-drop at Max Bell Centre and 7 Chiefs Sportsplex. They’d like to add to the two trophies they’ve tracked down in the annual event.

The Calgary Cannex Buffaloes (13-7-0-1-1) are always candidates to take the title and are the last of the city’s clubs to hoist the hardware. That was back in 2019, when they took down the Moose Jaw Warriors in the 6-2 finale for their fourth Circle K championship.

The Calgary Royals (11-0-1-1) are mid-pack in the Alberta Elite Hockey League’s U18 AAA ranks, hoping to raise their game to collect a second tourney banner.

And Cheng and the Northstars (11-0-1-1) — for a 13-5-0-1-1 in the AEHL standings — feel they’ve got the goods to challenge for the coveted cup and a second-ever Circle K crown.

“Our expectations would be to win it,” said confident Northstars captain Christopher Wright.

“I’d say expectations are high for this group,” added Cheng. “We’ve got a lot of WHL talent on our team, so we want to make sure we have a good showing and put our best foot forward.”

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WHAT TO WATCH ON DAY 1

See Sunday’s Day 1 schedule for game times and locations.

• Maddox Schultz, the top pick in the 2025 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft, and the high-octane Pat Canadians help kick off the tourney with a Sunday morning game against Shawnigan Lake School. • The matinee to take in is the international flair pitting contender Northern Alberta Xtreme versus Team Maryland, which makes its first visit to the tourney.

• An intriguing late afternoon affair sees Illinois’ Lake Forest Academy, which also makes its debut at The Circle K, against the always-tough Vancouver NE Chiefs in another international affair.

• And the game of the day goes Sunday night with the 2024-finalist Phoenix Jr. Coyotes facing off against the co-host Calgary UPP Flames.

WHAT ABOUT THE NORTHSTARS?

Cheng’s gang is looking to put behind them the 0-4 misadventure of last winter at The Circle K.

“It was a little bit disappointing,” said Cheng, who’s in his third year with the Calgary club. “Like I thought we deserved a better fate in a couple games — didn’t get the breaks that we needed. But it was still a great experience.

“It’s such a tough tournament. If you don’t get those first couple of wins under your belt, you get behind the eight-ball pretty quick. So you want to have a good, hot start.”

He thinks he’s got the horses to do that this time around.

After what Cheng called “early mistakes” in the AEHL campaign, his young group has been on the upswing as of late.

Included in their 7-3 run-up to the tourney was a 4-3 triumph over the Flames in mid-December to hand their city rivals their first — and only — loss of the schedule.

Yes … it’s been a right-time coming together of a team that returns only forward Wright, forward Sam Rishaug and goaltender Holden Murphy to the roster from last year’s Circle K Classic.

“We just need to play our game — stay confident, make simple plays and do the right things all the time,” Wright said. “We can’t be doing it ourselves. We’ve just got to play our team game that we know.”

The Northstars sport a trio of Western Hockey League first-round draftees — forward Ben Oliverio (Tri-City Americans) and defencemen Thor Liffiton (Penticton Vees) and Brook Haile (Seattle Thunderbirds).

Rishaug (Vancouver Giants), fellow forward Jack Holowachuk (Regina Pats), defenceman Luke Warrener (Medicine Hat Tigers) and goalie Rail Schollar (Edmonton Oil Kings) are also picks from the WHL Prospects Draft to further give them talent.

“We’ve got a fast, skilled team and a lot of depth that can be dangerous,” Cheng said.

“Yeah … we’re a pretty skillful team,” agreed Wright. “Our puck movement and our ability to shoot to score, that’s all going to be a really big part for us in the tournament.

“And getting in the corners, which might not be expected from us. But we will get in the corners, and we’ll grind, and we’ll get that puck in the net.”

More than they did last year, they hope.

The Northstars scored just seven goals in the four games.

“It wasn’t enough,” Cheng said. “But we don’t care — that’s last year.”

This year, a new champ will be crowned without defending king Shattuck-St. Mary’s in town.

And the Northstars are hoping it’s themselves sitting on that throne Thursday. The only time they’ve have won this event was way back in 1987.

“That’s something we’ve been talking about … yeah,” said Wright, of the absence of Shattuck-St. Mary’s. “We’re a little more excited to be able to use that and say that maybe we’ll be the new champions this year.

“I had a lot of fun last year,” added veteran Wright. “I mean … we didn’t do the best. But still being able to play against those different teams was a great experience and seeing how we match up against them was also really cool to see.

“We’re excited to see how this year goes now.”

SUNDAY’S DAY 1 SCHEDULE

Morning

Moose Jaw Warriors v. Rink Kelowna, 7 Chiefs 2, 10 a.m.
Burnaby Winter Club v. Fort Saskatchewan Rangers, Max Bell 2, 10 a.m.
Team Illinois v. Calgary Buffaloes, 7 Chiefs 1, 10:30 a.m.
Shawnigan Lake School v. Regina Pat Canadians, Max Bell 1, 10:30 a.m.

Afternoon

Prairie Hockey Academy v. Edmonton Jr. Oilers Blue, Max Bell 2, 12:45 p.m.
Northern Alberta Xtreme v. Team Maryland, 7 Chiefs 2, 12:45 p.m.
St. Louis Blues v. Red Deer Chiefs, Max Bell 1, 1:15 p.m.
Cariboo Cougars v. Calgary Royals, 7 Chiefs 1, 1:15 p.m.

Late afternoon

Lake Forest Academy v. Vancouver NE Chiefs, Max Bell 2, 3:30 p.m.
St. Albert Raiders v. Warman Wildcats, 7 Chiefs 2, 3:30 p.m.
South Alberta Hockey Academy v. Calgary Northstars, Max Bell 1, 4 p.m.
Edge School v. Sioux Falls Power, 7 Chiefs 1, 4 p.m.

Evening

Okanagan Rockets v. Okotoks Bowmark Oilers, 7 Chiefs 2, 6:15 p.m.
Chicago Mission v. CIHA, 7 Chiefs 1, 6:45 p.m.
OHA Edmonton v. Thompson Blazers, Max Bell 2, 7:15 p.m.
Phoenix Jr. Coyotes v. Calgary UPP Flames, Max Bell 1, 7:30 p.m.

tsaelhof@postmedia.com

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