Weekend Preview: More Tournaments & Showcases in Store for Weekend 2
After the American youth hockey season started last week with a smattering of games and tournaments, this weekend brings with it a few more larger events. Late summer and early fall represent showcase and tournament season in the United States, so the number of events and participating teams will continue to ramp up as we exit the month of August and head into Labor Day Weekend.
Among the events taking place this weekend is the Grand Rapids Kickoff Classic, a Tier 1 boys tournament in Michigan; the Warrior National Showcase, a Tier 1 boys event in Massachusetts; and the season’s first Eastern Junior Elite Prospects League (EJEPL) showcase of the season for Tier 2 boys teams in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.
While it’s impossible for us to cover and promote all the events being held in North America during a given weekend, we will do our best, as usual, throughout the season to highlight a cross-section of tournaments and games being played by boys and girls of various age levels and in a variety of locations around North America.
The Kickoff Classic, being run by Total Package Hockey (TPH), is being held in various community rinks around Grand Rapids, Mich., from Friday morning through Sunday afternoon. Twenty-four Tier 1 boys teams will be competing across the 14U, 15O, 16U and 18U age groups with another 10 split-season teams participating at the 16U and 18U levels.
The 14U and 16U Tier 1 divisions each are comprised of six teams, while the 15O Division has four teams and the 18U Division includes eight teams. Nationally recognized programs such as Victory Honda, Little Caesars, Belle Tire, the Windy City Storm and Chicago Fury are sending teams to the event. The tournament features 70 total games over the three days.
CLICK HERE for the Grand Rapids Kickoff Classic schedule. Most, if not all, tournament games should be available for live and on-demand viewing via LiveBarn. Games are being played at Southside Ice Arena, Patterson Ice Center and Kentwood Ice Arena.
Being hosted by the Valley Jr. Warriors at rinks throughout northern Massachusetts, the Warrior National Showcase features more than 40 AAA (Tier 1) boys teams competing at the 13U, 12U, 11U, 2014, 2015 and 2016 age levels. The tournament includes teams from Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maine and Rhode Island. There are six teams in the 13U Division, nine in the 12U Division, seven in the 11U Division, six in the 2014 Division, five in the 2015 Division and eight in the 2016 Division.
Preliminary-round games are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, with the semifinals and finals set for Sunday. Champions will be crowned by late Sunday afternoon, and all games can be viewed live or on-demand via LiveBarn.
CLICK HERE for the Warrior National showcase schedule. The tournament is being played at Haverhill Valley Forum, Lawrence Valley Forum, Breakaway Ice Center (Tewksbury, Mass.) and Chelmsford Forum.
The Eastern Junior Elite Prospects League, a Tier 2 boys circuit that includes teams competing in seven age groups, is holding its first showcase of the year Friday through Sunday in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. For its first event of the season, the EJEPL will be hosting a total of nearly 500 games at a dozen facilities throughout the four states. There will be 10U, 12U, 13U, 14U, 15O, 16U and 18U divisions.
CLICK HERE for a complete list of the rinks being used. Most of the games can be viewed live or on-demand via LiveBarn. See the entire showcase schedule by CLICKING HERE.
The EJEPL is an “in-season” league that offers its member teams a 16-game schedule that includes two showcase events for the 9U through 14U age groups and a 20-game schedule that includes three showcases for the 15O through 18U teams. EJEPL member clubs come from 12 different states, allowing teams an opportunity to play against other clubs they might not otherwise schedule. The league also allows flexible scheduling options for non-showcase games so member teams can schedule those contests whenever they fit into their seasons.
The EJEPL season starts in late August and concludes with the league playoffs in February, allowing members to compete in their local leagues or other leagues of their choosing. According to the EJEPL website, the league currently boasts more than 60 member organizations and better than 260 participating teams.
