Shattuck St. Mary’s repeats in Circle K Classic in thriller versus Calgary International Hockey Academy
Posted Jan 2, 2025 12:34 pm.
Last Updated Jan 2, 2025 12:50 pm.
It was another thrilling tournament in Calgary’s year-end AAA hockey tournament — the Circle K Classic — which came down to the most tense final since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shattuck St. Mary’s came into the 2024-25 tournament as heavy favourites, ranked number one in the U.S. and were looking to defend their 2023-24 title, and looked to easily walk through the competition leading up to the finals on New Year’s Day.
But Calgary looked to keep the title north of the 49th parallel, as hockey lovers from across the city filled Max Bell to watch the main final between Shattuck and the Calgary International Hockey Academy (CIHA).
Both teams met in their opening game of the tournament, on Dec. 27, as they were both drawn into Pool 6, alongside Sherwood Park Kings and the Valley West Giants.
While Shattuck won the opener 9-3 and went on to roll the rest of their competition leading up to Jan. 1, CIHA managed five consecutive wins, including an overtime win over Bishop Kearny Selects and a shootout win over Airdrie in the Semi-Finals to force the rematch.
In Wednesday’s A Bracket final, CIHA’s netminder Cole Perlusky stood tall for his team and managed to weather the storm of Shattuck St. Mary’s holding them off the scoreboard until the 8:57 mark of the second period.
After the opening goal from Shattuck’s Gavin Katz, every rush and chance CIHA could make, the excitement in the crowd built, growing more eager for the equalizer the later the game got.
CIHA were able to beat Shattuck’s goaltender Jackson Silverberg on a pair of occasions but found the iron each time, and ultimately came up short, in a thriller that ended 1-0.
With the win, Shattuck St. Mary’s was awarded their sixth Circle K Classic trophy — adding to their collection from 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, and last year.
Rest of the tournament
The 2024-25 tournament, featured eight Calgary and area quadrant and school teams looking to take home three titles — A, B, and C — against other teams from across Canada, the United States and Hungary.
The tournament saw a slight change in the playoffs format, as it expanded the A bracket from the previous few tournaments, to include the Pool winners and runners-up. The B bracket featured the teams who finished third in their Pools, while the C bracket featured the teams who finished fourth.
IN PHOTOS:
Scouts from across the WHL, AJHL, and many other leagues, could be seen at both Max Bell and 7 Chiefs arenas throughout the entire 77-game tournament.
OHA Penticton went on to claim the B championship after they defeated the St. Louis AAA Blues 5-2, and the Valley West Giants managed a comeback in the C championship as they defeated the Edmonton Oilers Orange 4-3 in overtime.
Calgary and area teams included the Airdrie CFR Bisons, Calgary Buffaloes, Calgary Northstars, Calgary UPP Flames, Calgary Royals, Okotoks Bowmark Oilers, and two school programs CIHA and Edge School.
