The Mac's U18AAA hockey tournament is back after a year's absence due to COVID-19
The Mac's hockey tournament is a holiday tradition in Calgary and is considered one of the best U18AAA tournaments in the world. Some of the best players in the world have played in this event and gone on to have outstanding NHL careers, including Sidney Crosby, Jarome Iginla, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Parise and Mike Vernon to name a few.
Last year the Mac's was cancelled because of COVID-19 but this year the Mac's is back.
Mac's general manager Jesse Hale, leading the tournament for the first time, said there's a real buzz in the hockey community about its return.
"I'm excited about it, just a couple of weeks away," Hale told CTV.
"They got some great teams and the social media buzz around our account has been buzzing as well so I think people are excited to get back to the rink and watch this tournament."
DEFENDING CHAMPS
2019 winners the Calgary Buffaloes are the defending Champs. Captain Ethan Coventry said he knows the 12-7-1 Buffs will have a target on their backs as they try to repeat in 2021.
"Knowing that target is going to be on our backs we're prepared for it as a team," said the 17-year-old.
"We've got good experience on this team," Coventry added. "We have a few kids that got called up so they know what it takes.
"And obviously our coach (Brent Harrison) knows what it takes and our coaching staff as well."
Mac's tournament, 2019, Calgary, Alberta
FLAMES BEST IN THE SOUTH
The Calgary Flames are the top team in the Alberta Elite League's South Division with a 13-4-4 record.
Captain Kyler Smith said he likes his teams' chances heading into the Mac's.
"We're a strong team and look forward to the competition," Smith said.
"We've got a great group of guys and hopefully we'll go out there and win it."
ROYALS READY TO TURN IT UP A NOTCH
The Calgary Royals are 8-1-2 on the season and in sixth place in the standings.
Royals' captain Matteo Danis is playing in the Mac's for the very first time and believes his team can get on a roll.
"Oh we're feeling really good, very confident," Danis said.
"I think we're going to build up especially this month and come together even more as a team.
"Honestly anything less than winning the Mac's we're going to be disappointed so we can't wait."
NORTHSTARS LOOKING TO GET HOT
The Calgary Northstars are in 5th place in the Calgary Elite Hockey Leagues South Division standings. Their record is 8-9-2.
Even though they're under .500 right now, Captain Jackson Rowland thinks they can do some damage at the Mac's.
"Not the best start that we wanted to the season," Rowlands said, "but we're coming into this tournament and see how many wins we can get."
EDGE SCHOOL MAKING MAC'S DEBUT
For the first time, the Mac's is welcoming teams from the Canadian Sport School Academy, which means the Edge School will make its debut this season.
Hale said it was important to add these teams.
"That was one of our main changes I think you could call it from previous years with the year off," Hale said.
"I think we just want to have the best players and the best teams from around the world here and if some of those best players reside from the Edge School or a sports school we want to have them involved.
"We want to have this tournament become a best-on-best event."
30 teams split up into six divisions will take part in this years Mac's tournament.
Games will be played at Max Bell, Father David Bauer, and Seven Chiefs Sportsplex. Flames Community Arena and the final will be held at the Saddledome.
Play begins on December 27, with the championship game set for January 2nd.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.