Hockey groups warn of fake tournament scam targeting youth teams

Posted on October 29, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

By Brook Wagner
Southern Alberta Newspapers

Hockey Alberta is warning minor hockey teams and parents about an online scam that tricks them into paying fake tournament registration fees.

The alert comes as hockey groups across the country report a rise in fraudulent emails and websites. The fake invites look real, they use real association names, logos and copies of official registration forms.

Hockey Alberta posted its warning on Oct. 8.

“If you receive an unexpected invitation, verify it directly with the tournament host through their official website or known contact information before clicking links, registering or sending payment,” the post said.

The group says the fake messages closely mirror official emails and registration forms.

The fake invitations appear to come from minor hockey associations, and in some cases from Hockey Alberta itself. Drew Dixon, Hockey Alberta’s director of membership, said some associations reported fake emails. He says scammers in some cases asked for extra payments after the registration was paid.

Hockey Alberta oversees minor hockey across the province, so teams in southern Alberta and Medicine Hat are possible targets.

Similar warnings have come from the East Coast. Hockey Nova Scotia has says teams there have seen similar scam attempts as well.

These days it is easy for thieves to copy a website, set up a fake email address and send out messages that mimic typical phishing scams. Registration for some of these tournaments can cost between $800 and $2,000, so the teams’ money is at real risk.

Canadians reported more than $704 million in losses to fraud in 2025, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.