Hockey Alberta warns families of fake tournament scam targeting minor hockey across the province
Scammers are impersonating sanctioned tournament hosts with forged emails and registration forms demanding fees around $2,000. Hockey Alberta says at least a few families have already paid.
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Hockey Alberta issued a social media alert Tuesday warning minor hockey associations across the province of a wave of fake tournament emails designed to look like legitimate registration invitations, complete with forged league letterhead and official-looking reply addresses.
The scam exploits the fall tournament season, when newly formed minor hockey teams scramble to secure spots in high-demand competitions. Scammers have extracted sanctioned tournament details (date, location, age division) posted online by legitimate hosts, then sent competing teams invitation emails from spoofed addresses requesting payment — typically around $2,000 per team, though amounts vary by association.
Angie Thiessen, tournament co-ordinator for the McKnight Hockey Association in Calgary, described the impact plainly: "It's despicable. You're scamming these kids that are trying to play hockey and have to do bottle drives to play in tournaments." Thiessen received an alert from another association asking whether a tournament acceptance email was real; it was not. The McKnight association received 120 applications for its U18 tournaments, a sign of how busy the season is for families seeking placements.
Other associations in Alberta, including Knights Hockey Club and Trails West Hockey Association in southwest Calgary, and Devon Minor Hockey southwest of Edmonton, have all warned their members of similar attempts. Drew Dixon, Hockey Alberta's director of membership, confirmed the organization has "seen at least a few" families who "had followed through in the acceptance of that fabricated tournament and created email" — meaning they sent money. In at least one case Thiessen is aware of, no payment went through; in others, funds were transferred before the deception was discovered.
Hockey Canada's national office said it is not aware of comparable scams in other provinces.
The scheme works because sanctioned tournaments are posted online with details families and competing teams need to find and apply, making that information easily accessible to scammers. Host associations typically require competing teams to formally apply for tournament spots, so an unsolicited email invitation is an immediate red flag — legitimate hosts do not cold-invite other teams. Dixon advised families to verify that contact information aligns with the sanction site listing before sending e-transfers. Hockey Alberta is focusing on raising awareness of these warning signs rather than attempting to restrict online tournament information, which families legitimately depend on to locate competitions.
How many families across Alberta have fallen victim to the scam, and what is the total dollar loss?
Are police investigating, and have any charges been laid against the scammers?
What verification steps is Hockey Alberta implementing to prevent scammers from obtaining real tournament details posted online?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
How much are scammers demanding per team?
Scammers are typically requesting around $2,000 per team, though amounts vary by association.
How many families have already paid the scammers?
Hockey Alberta's director of membership confirmed the organization has seen at least a few families who sent money to the scammers. In at least one case no payment went through, but in others funds were transferred before the deception was discovered.
Which Alberta minor hockey associations have warned members about this scam?
Knights Hockey Club, Trails West Hockey Association in southwest Calgary, and Devon Minor Hockey southwest of Edmonton have all warned their members of similar scam attempts.
