Mary Katherine Wynn/Dreamstime

By Jesse Gill

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat hockey parent still out over $5K for season that never took place

Mar 24, 2025 | 5:51 PM

The hockey season is wrapping up for a number of youth across Medicine Hat.

That doesn’t include those who registered to play with the Southeast Selects of the Premier Hockey League this season.

The Selects competed in the PHL with a U16 team for the 2023-24 season. But the expectation was to have teams at the U13, U15 and U18 levels for this season.

Mathieu Zacher, who’s son was set to play on one of the teams, said he has still not seen a refund for the $5,500 in fees he had paid in June, for a season that didn’t happen.

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Zacher said they were expecting things to start in the summer with some initial skates, there was nothing.

Then ice times started to get cancelled.

He then received a message three weeks into October that said the team was folding and didn’t have enough kids.

When it came to receiving his registration money back.

“The manager had told me that all the money had been refunded to everybody, and mine must have got lost,” Zacher said.

“The manager told me she’d talk to her accountant, and she would look into it and have the money sent over to me right away, which never happened.”

After finding out a season wasn’t taking place, Zacher attempted to register his son with Medicine Hat Minor Hockey but registration was already closed for the season.

Zacher is not optimistic that he will get his money back.

“I can’t see the money being given back to me,” Zacher said.

CHAT News confirmed in December that a complaint was received by the Redcliff RCMP about people being owed money they sent to the Selects, and an investigation underway.

Zacher’s son previously played in the PHL with a team out of the city and he said that was a positive experience.

“It was great. The PHL, it was promoting kids’ activities, and you’re paying for what you get,” Zacher said.

“I don’t see why a group of parents couldn’t stand up together and have another team,” he added.

“There’s a rink in Suffield, Rolling Hills, there’s ice time in Irvine, Redcliff. It’s a shame that the Southeast Selects couldn’t continue on and promote these kids playing.”