By TERRY PUGH
The Warman Wildcats, Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors and Regina Pat Canadians are the three teams from Saskatchewan invited to the prestigious Circle K Classic in Calgary December 27 to January 1.
Both Regina and Moose Jaw competed in last year’s tournament, while Warman took part in the 2023-24 tournament. Regina is currently in first place (as of December 1) in the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League (SMU18AAAHL) with a record of 19-1-2-0, while Moose Jaw is in second spot with a record of 17-1-1-0 and Warman is in seventh place with a record of 10-7-1-0.
The Circle K Classic (formerly known as the Mac’s Tournament) is an international invitational competition that features a total of 32 U18 teams from the SMU18AAAHL, Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL), BC Elite Hockey League (BCEHL) Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL), and the United States.
The first tournament was held in 1978 and was known at the time as the CP Challenge Cup. It’s an important tournament that offers a stage for the most talented U18 players in North America, and is closely watched by scouts from professional leagues.
The tournament schedule will be unveiled December 8.
Several area players are looking forward to showcasing their skills at the tournament, including Warman Wildcats goaltenders Seth Gutenberg (Saskatoon) and Jacob Appleby (Regina), defensemen Walker Bergen (Hague), Easton Bauer (Meadow Lake), Wesley Black (Warman), Grayer Johanneson (Waldheim), James Norman (Meadow Lake), Kohen Oblander (Martensville), Logan Olsen (Warman), Morgan Thompson (Warman), and Colton Vedress (Annaheim); forwards Cash Arcand-Vandale (Saskatoon), Nixxon Arcand-Vandale (Saskatoon), Dawson Baht (Martensville), Kosten Baliski (Grasswood), Cruz Bear (Ochapawace), Declan Borthwick (Prince Albert), Sam Failler (Dundurn), Dawson Gamble (Beardy’s), Cruz Harrison (Maidstone), Tyson Janzen (Martensville), Owen Kenke (Saskatoon), Weston Kostiuk (Martensville), Hudson Sawatzky (Hague), Jesse Scriven (Prince Albert), Kaine Thiessen (Kindersley), Dade Wotherspoon (Martensville), and Kylan Woytiuk (Martensville).
Area players on the Moose Jaw Warriors team include forwards Maclain Ethier (Warman) and Declan Larmer (Saskatoon).
The teams this year include:
* AEHL: United Pacific Projects NW Flames, Calgary Northstars, Calgary Royals, Calgary Buffs, Edmonton Jr. Oilers Blue, St. Albert U18AAA Raiders, Fort Saskatchewan Strike Group Rangers, Red Deer Optimist Chiefs, Okotoks Bowmark Oilers.
* SMU18AAAHL: Warman Wildcats, Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors, Regina Pat Canadians.
* BCCEHL: Okanagan Rockets, Vancouver NE Chiefs, U18AAA Cariboo Cougars, Thompson Blazers U18AAA.
* CSSHL: Prairie Hockey Academy, BWC Academy U18 Prep, Calgary International Hockey Academy U18 Prep, The Edge School, Northern Alberta Xtreme, Rink Kelowna, South Alberta Hockey Academy, OHA Edmonton U18 Prep, Shawnigan Lake School.
* USA: Chicago Mission, Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 18U Tier 1, St. Louis AAA Blues, Team Illinois 18U, Sioux Falls POWER, Lake Forest Academy, Team Maryland.