Crowchild Classic postponed, games won't be played at Scotiabank Saddledome
There will be no Crowchild Classic at Calgary's Scotiabank Saddledome in 2022.
Instead, the annual games between the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University men's and women's hockey teams originally planned for Feb. 3 are being rescheduled to later in the month and will be played at Father David Bauer Arena and Flames Community Arenas. No date has been announced.
The move is a result of the rising spread of COVID-19, namely the Omicron variant.
“It’s certainly disappointing that one of the marquee events on the U SPORTS hockey calendar will not happen for a second straight year, but given the current circumstances this is the appropriate decision,” said Ben Matchett, UCalgary Dinos director of athletics.
“The health and safety of our student-athletes, staff, and our student body is our number one priority, and with the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Omicron variant and both campuses in online learning until at least the end of January, moving forward with this event would not have been prudent.
“We remain committed to this event with our partners, the Calgary Flames and Mount Royal University, and we look forward to a successful return to the Scotiabank Saddledome in 2023.”
The annual games between the two post-secondary institutions started in 2012, the year MRU joined the Canada West conference.
"The series is highlighted annually by a doubleheader of men's and women’s hockey, hosted by the Calgary Flames, at the Scotiabank Saddledome. In the first instalment of the rivalry games in 2012, the Crowchild Classic broke a 42-year-old Canada West attendance record and set a U SPORTS men's hockey attendance record with a total of 12,859 fans in 2016," read a release.
"In just eight seasons, the game has become a fixture on the Calgary sports scene and one of the marquee university sport events in Canada each year."
Each of the men's and women's hockey teams receive an annual $20,000 donation from the Flames Foundation and award four students per year at each school with the Calgary Flames Hockey Scholarship.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.