Calgary's Mac's U18 AAA Hockey Tournament cancelled due to pandemic

One of the world's most prestigious U18 AAA hockey tournaments, an annual Calgary tradition since 1978, has been cancelled this year to ensure the well-being of teams, spectators and volunteers.

Officials with the Mac's U18 AAA World Invitational Tournament announced Tuesday evening that the event will not take place due to "the rising cases and constantly changing environment of the COVID-19 pandemic."

The tournament was slated to include teams from outside Alberta and Canada. There were significant concerns that any underage players who tested positive would not be able to leave Calgary to return home.

"We feel it is not appropriate to execute the tournament as planned," said tournament committee members in a statement.

The cancellation followed reported positive cases within attending teams. Tournament officials say they would have been unable to isolate players due to arrival dates, replace teams on short notice or reschedule games in the event of positive cases.

"We are disappointed for the players, coaches and their families but we hope for better days in 2022. We are considering all options moving forward including rescheduling the tournament to a later date and will communicate any changes moving forward."

Calgary Royals Captain Matteo Danis says was really looking forward to playing in the Mac's. 

He's been a big fan of the tournament since he was a youngster. 

The 17-year-old is likely headed to the Calgary Hitmen next year, so this was his only chance to play in the Mac's over the holiday season. 

Danis says it was disappointing when he found out about the cancellation on Tuesday night.

"I was looking forward to it, honestly, since I was a kid. I watched my brothers play in this tournament and it's honestly probably the coolest tournament as an under 18 player."

It's a double whammy for Royals defenceman Sean Quinn. 

He was with the Royals last year when it was cancelled and now again this year. 

Quinn says it's very disappointing.

"It's pretty tough you know," Quinn said. "Like you know everyone wanted to play in it and we were all hoping that we'd get to showcase ourselves."

"But at the end of the day there's not much you can do with the kind of world we're in right now."

There still may be a glimmer of hope for these young players. 

Hockey Calgary Executive Director Kevin Kobelka says they're looking into holding the tournament at a later date.

"It's not 100 per cent guaranteed, but we'll kick tires on that and maybe do a spring tournament for the first time ever."

Kobelka says all 30 teams that were to play in the Mac's over the holidays are interested in a spring tournament. 

Danis and Quinn say they would jump at the opportunity.

"I think just getting the tournament, just to play in it would be amazing no matter when it is," Quinn said. "I think anybody on any team would be all over it."

Danis agrees.

"To move it where people are probably safer in the month of March or April would be great because then we can still showcase our skill and showcase our team and still have a great tournament," he said.The tournament had been scheduled to begin Dec. 27. Fans will receive refunds for purchased tickets and passes.