Cold Hands Collective was born out of a shared passion for grassroots Super Smash Bros. — both Ultimate and Melee — as well as a deep commitment to building an inclusive and thriving local community. The founders first crossed paths through Calgary's bustling tournament scene, where they discovered a mutual desire to create more accessible, consistent, and community-driven competitive spaces. Each member brought something different to the table—whether it was tournament organization experience, design and branding skills, tech know-how, or community outreach. This blend of talents led to the idea of forming an organization that could go beyond one-off events. The collective’s vision quickly solidified: to create a nonprofit dedicated to organizing high-quality Smash Bros. tournaments, fostering new talent, and supporting a welcoming environment for both casual and competitive players.
In mid 2024, the team entered the Bow Valley College Esports and Indie Dev. Accelerator program, where they refined their mission, developed strategic plans, and gained valuable mentorship in nonprofit development. The program was instrumental in helping Cold Hands Collective transition from a passionate idea into a formal organization. By the end of Winter 2024, Cold Hands Collective had officially incorporated, laying the groundwork for sustainable growth and long-term impact in Calgary’s scene. From day one, CHC has been about more than just games—it’s about connection, community, and creating something meaningful through play.
Steven is the president of Cold Hands Collective and has been interested in competitive gaming since the release of Starcraft 2 in 2010. He has been running tournaments in Calgary since 2022 and also does music production.
Heather has been competing in Smash since 2016; Her passion is working on software and hardware tools for competitive gamers. Within Cold Hands she helps with organizing financials and equipment transportation.
Scoot went to its first tournament at 12 years old and has been hooked on competition since. A student of both the game and community, Scoot has been TOing events for years. A fiend on the sticks and a friend planning events, it helps with graphics, social media, event organization and getting first in Melee. B)
Tyler’s been gaming since he could hold a controller. Now studying at Mount Royal University, he leads the Smash Ultimate scene at Cold Hands!
Dylan is the Vice President of the MRU Smash Club and co-leads the Smash Ultimate side of Cold Hands alongside Tyler. He has a strong passion for programming and information technology, and is currently finishing his university studies while working in the IT field and advancing his career.
Paulo brings experience from various esports titles, including competing at the collegiate level. His passion lies in the communities that thrive within the local esport space. Driven by this passion, he aims to further develop his skills in Communications within the very industry that inspired his career path.