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 26 (Boxing Day) 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 three local arenas in Calgary. They are the Max Bell Centre, the Father David Bauer Olympic Arena, and the Flames Community Arena. The main championship game is held at the Scotiabank Saddledome, where it is seen as many as 10,000 spectators. Overall, the tournament draws in as many as 100,000 spectators over the seven 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]
- ^ a b Official website's History of Circle K Classic Page
- ^ 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.