Winter Youth Tourneys

[gdahl]

I am looking for ideas of what makes for a great winter tourney for the association teams. When choosing an in-season tourney for your association what are you looking for? Do you want to play other teams in your district? Want to play higher or lower level competition? Want to travel one or two hours more or less? Want to play the traditional eight team bracket with three games guaranteed or play one of the new hybrid tourneys with a four game guarantee? Want to pay gate fees for spectators or a higher entry fee for the team? Want to play on a specific weekend? Want super cheap hotels or want a fancy one? Premiums for the kids such as t-shirts, ballcaps, or pucks with a logo? What would the ultimate tourney look like?

[hockeydad30]

I am looking for ideas of what makes for a great winter tourney for the association teams. When choosing an in-season tourney for your association what are you looking for? Do you want to play other teams in your district? Want to play higher or lower level competition? Want to travel one or two hours more or less? Want to play the traditional eight team bracket with three games guaranteed or play one of the new hybrid tourneys with a four game guarantee? Want to pay gate fees for spectators or a higher entry fee for the team? Want to play on a specific weekend? Want super cheap hotels or want a fancy one? Premiums for the kids such as t-shirts, ballcaps, or pucks with a logo? What would the ultimate tourney look like?

What I look for when chosing tourneys for my teams 4 game min. round robins are the best, and having t-shirts etc are nice. Travel dosn't matter and the more different the teams the better

[crossunder]

Is the tournament a fund raiser for the association?
Is the tournament for the players?
895 for three games and a twenty dollar fee for the weekend is a fund raiser. no good
895 and four games no gate fee is for the players. Sign me up
15 or longer stop periods is a plus
I would not like to travel 100 miles to play a team in my district.I can do that for 175 each for ice and a couple refs
hotels should be under a hundred a night and nice Holiday inn, Radison, Sheraton, Hilton type quality. Some smaller towns may not have these names but a clean safe hotel will do. Best Western, super 8, motel 6

[Wasilla]

I agree; Four game guarentee, no gate fees, non-district teams, non-travel 45 min max commute; travel tourneys should be in a city with team friendly restaurants, some activities and hotel should have a party room/pool/breakfast option.

[rudy]

Round robin, definitely.
3 15-min periods or longer.
3 officials every game.
resurfacing that guarentees two clean sheets per game.
Introductions and PA music every game.
An announcer with enthusiasm and who can speak clearly.
Higher team fee and no gate fee.
Avoid teams from your home district.
Locker room attendants who make sure your "stuff" is safe.
Quickly updated game results posted at the rink.
If multiple levels, good to have scheduling that has teams from the same association playing back to back.

[DMom]

There seems to be a consensus, now how do you make money on a four game gaurantee, round-robin with 15 minute stop time periods, zamboni every two periods, and no gate fee?

Pictures? raffles? silent auctions? no player gifts?

That is the perfect tournament, it would be helpful if you could get local area restaurants to come up with healthy meal options that they'll deliver to hotels(like the Olive Garden dinners).

We only do one out of town tournament a year now and the emphasis is on making it a really good one, rather fun or competitive. The tournaments with skills competitions are always a hit with the kids. Walker, MN hosted hockeymom hockey games which we got good feedback on (although they recommended not staying at the hotel in town, but heading for the casino).

[nahc]

Best run tourneys in MN - Roseau - The whole community supports the tourney. Games are well run, on time, and ice is cleaned every 2 periods. Hotels/resturaunts go out of their way to provide great return on money spent. People treat you wonderfully!!!!!!!!!!!

To me, its great hockey and how we are treated for participating in a tourney. The people in Roseau go our of their way to say "Thank You" rather than "give me your money"........!!!!

[Bronc]

Best run tourneys in MN - Roseau - The whole community supports the tourney. Games are well run, on time, and ice is cleaned every 2 periods. Hotels/resturaunts go out of their way to provide great return on money spent. People treat you wonderfully!!!!!!!!!!!

To me, its great hockey and how we are treated for participating in a tourney. The people in Roseau go our of their way to say "Thank You" rather than "give me your money"........!!!!

Roseau does a very nice job with the tournament and the community is solid behind it (just like the Legion:).

Typically very good competition as well. Warroad does a very nice job to, heck so does Cloquet and Thief River, etc. The northern towns put on nice tournaments for the most part (except those that have raised their prices to high to make it affordable, btwn the entry, gate, travel, etc)