Celebrating 46 years of Esso Minor Hockey Week

Esso Minor Hockey Week marked its 46th anniversary in Calgary from January 9 to 17, with 650 U18 teams competing in nearly 900 games.
The nine-day tournament, hosted by Hockey Calgary, drew about 12,000 players and featured a kickoff event with local hockey personalities and the Calgary Flames’ Harvey the Hound.
This year Imperial and Esso are celebrating 90 years of supporting hockey in Canada, reinforcing their deep ties to the sport and the community.

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Hockey has been part of Imperial’s DNA for the past 90 years and nowhere is that connection felt more strongly than during Esso Minor Hockey Week. This year, the tournament that descends upon Calgary for nine days every January celebrated its 46^th anniversary.

From January 9 to 17, 650 U18 teams battled it out in the ‘Stanley Cup’ of minor hockey. Approximately 12,000 players competed in close to 900 games, all leading to a championship on Saturday, January 17, packed with cheers, nerves and nonstop hockey magic.

Taking centre ice in Calgary

“Esso Minor Hockey Week is a cornerstone event for this community, and we’re excited it’s the 46^th year we’ve been supporting minor hockey,” says Kimberly Hamilton, Director of Marketing for Imperial and proud hockey mom. “Esso fuels families and players as they get to the games, so we couldn’t be more pleased with the success of Esso Minor Hockey Week and how it brings the community together.”

The tournament is hosted by Hockey Calgary, and the kickoff event on January 10 welcomed hockey enthusiasts and leaders alike, including popular hockey influencers Coach Chippy, Pavel Barber and the Hockey Benders. The Calgary Flames’ Harvey the Hound and the team from Hockey Calgary were also on hand to cheer on the teams.

“Imperial and Esso have been with us right from the start for 46 years,” says Kevin Kobelka, Executive Director of Hockey Calgary. “Esso is synonymous with this event – no one calls it minor hockey week, they call it Esso Minor Hockey Week. We are very thankful to have the great support of Imperial and Esso and we really appreciate all they do for us here in the City of Calgary.”

Caught on camera

Feel the excitement of the tournament captured below.

Marking 90 years of supporting Canada’s game

This year Imperial marks 90 years of supporting hockey in Canada. Since sponsoring the first national radio broadcast of an NHL game in 1936, Imperial and Hockey Night in Canada have come a long way.

Esso, along with its stations fueling Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast, is the official fuel of the NHL and celebrates achievement at all levels of hockey.