Location of Tournament:
Indian Trail Beach, Lake in the Hills, Illinois

Time of Year: 
Mid January, Saturday - January 19th (Starts at 8 AM)​

Ages Welcomed to Play:
Adults 18+

Size of the Tournament: 
Tournament History has ranged from 8-16 Teams

Special Entertainment:
Grown men playing Pond Hockey!​

​Any Special Vendors?
Local restaurant catering following the Tournament! 

What Sets This Tournament Apart:
Lake in the Hills is unique in that it has a lake and the proper resources to offer these types of activities that other surrounding areas cannot. While others may have Ice Hockey; we literally put the "Pond" in "Pond Hockey".

Third Assist's Take: 
We have an affinity for tournaments which bring the game of pond hockey back to its roots. Lake in the Hills Pond Hockey Tournament is one of the smaller tournaments we feature, but it has all you need for a fun environment surrounding the game. This is a local event which pulls in participants from all over, but most importantly you get the community here. These are often the most fun!

​Ages Welcomed to Play:
Adults 21+. Sponsored by Labatt Blue- makes sense!

Size of the Tournament: 
Eagle River, WI is over 2000 players.
Meredith, NH is over 2000 players.
Colchester, VT is over 1200 players.

Special Entertainment:
We're going to venture a guess you'll find a nicely stocked beer tent here among other awesome food, drink, hockey vendors at all three locales.

What Sets This Tournament Apart:
These are the large-scale, well-run, well-established tournaments in the pond hockey world. They frequently sell out well before the holidays, as they did this year. You can expect lots of teams, lots of food and drinks, and lots of entertainment. This may sound like a mass-produced tournament, but each one is a reflection of the area where it's being played. One size does not fit all, and that's what makes this tournament line-up so cool.

Third Assist's Take: 
These tournaments have been going on for over a decade now and have got it figured out. When you sign up to one of these events you have a good idea of what you're getting into, and it does not disappoint. These represent the upper tier of national tournaments and if you're looking to get on the big stage of pond hockey, these are the tournaments for you.

Location of Tournament:
Whitmore Lake, Michigan

Time of Year: 
February 8-10, 2019

Ages Welcomed to Play:
Adults 18+

Size of the Tournament: 
8 divisions, typically about 100-110 teams, approx 950 players

Special Entertainment:
Live band Friday and Saturday, and one HUGE Beer tent.

Any Special Vendors?
Lots of vendors for the facilities, and the onsite presence is mostly sponsors.

What Sets This Tournament Apart:
The tournament is the primary fundraiser for the Michigan Pond Hockey Sports Charities, which provides financial assistance to promote and encourage participation in youth athletic programs. Our tournament provides a three day, festival like atmosphere in the heart of Michigan, and brings people out of their winter hibernation. The event features 24 rinks carved out on beautiful Whitmore Lake.

Third Assist's Take: 
As you may have seen already, there are pond hockey events of all scales and sizes taking place this winter. You can go to a tournament on a national circuit sponsored by large corps, or you can find a local tournament which is lightly advertised and only grabs players within a 20 mile radius. What we like about the Michigan Pond Hockey Classic is that it's the best mix of both. It's an established, well-run tournament with entertainment to last the full weekend, but it still represents the Wolverine state well. This one has been on our radar for years, so we'd be all in to register for a weekend here.

Where to Learn More About This Tournament: 
www.facebook.com/michiganpondhockeyclassic

*All photos used by permission from tournament.

Location of Tournament:
Purity Lake (across from King Pine Ski Area), Madison, NH

Time of Year: 
Last weekend in January (January 26 - January 27, 2019)​

Ages Welcomed to Play:
Youth (Boys: Mites through Peewees & Girls: U10 & U12)

Size of the Tournament: 
Up to 70 teams of 6 to 8 USA registered players (4v4 on ice) are guaranteed 4 games.

Special Entertainment:
Food for all and beer/wine tent for adults. Across the street you can find skiing & tubing.

Any Special Vendors?
Rugby imports sells gear. The Youth Pond Hockey Festival sells food, thermal mugs, etc.

What Sets This Tournament Apart:
The Youth Pond Hockey Festival (YPHF) is located on a private lake situated at Purity Spring Resort and King Pine Ski Area. The event is “old fashioned” pond hockey for more than 500 boys and girls (U12, U10, Pewee, Squirt and Mites). The 2019 YPHF will host more than 60 teams consisting of up to eight players primarily from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island; however, teams out of New York State and Maine will attend this year’s festival. The games, 45 minute each, have four kids from each team playing on one of up to 14 rinks at any one time.

The lake is just 15 minutes south of Conway, NH, and “it provides an amazing opportunity for young hockey players to enjoy pond hockey at its best,” explains YPHF Co-Founder Tobin Kelly. He explains, “The collaboration with the resort and ski mountain allows for a winter festival feel by providing a wonderful family hockey experience in conjunction with other activities such as skiing, tubing, and dining for kids and parents alike.”

Proceeds from this event benefit The Laura Foundation. This New Hampshire based non-profit has a mission to provide funding to develop and support therapeutic recreation and educational programs that enrich the quality of lives of individuals with autism and/or seizure disorders. All programs are free to individuals receiving services through the Laura Foundation, and the YPHF helps to make this possible.

Third Assist's Take: 
If we have one tournament on our list which we think you can bring the whole family to, it'd be this one. Some are built for adults, some are built solely for the kids (and parents idly watching), but the Youth Pond Hockey Festival has games for the younger guys and gals and entertainment for the siblings and adults. This is the only all-youth festival we know of in New England, and one of just a handful in the US. Good choice if you want to plan a winter weekend for the full family. 

Ages Welcomed to Play:
21+. It's a Labatt Blue tournament after all.

Size of the Tournament: 
7 divisions which means 200 teams and over 1200 people total

Special Entertainment:
Live music on the lake!

Location of Tournament:
At The Burkshore Marina in Big Lake, Alaska.
Exact Address: 3610 S. Burkeshore Dr. Big Lake Alaska

Time of Year: 
March 8-10 2019

Ages Welcomed to Play:
Youth and Adults

Size of the Tournament: 
9 Divisions (U10,U14, U18, Novice, Co-Ed, Open, Women, Elite, 49ers) 107 in 2018

Special Entertainment:
Two free concerts for those 21+ on Friday and Saturday nights. This is in addition to fireworks Saturday night, and a free family rink available weekend-long.

Any Special Vendors:
49th State Brewing Company provides great food, beer garden, food trucks, etc...  

What Sets This Tournament Apart:
One word: Alaska. Oh, the trophy here is pretty amazing too. 

Third Assist's Take: 
This tournament is truly one-of-a-kind. It takes place on Big Lake which is about a hour out of the state's largest city of Anchorage. The owners of Third Assist are originally from Anchorage, and Big Lake was one of the first places we played pond hockey. It only makes sense that Alaska's premier tournament takes place in a setting like Big Lake. Cool setting, cool music, cool trophies. This is on our pond hockey bucket-list.

​Location of Tournament:
Snow Pond Center for the Arts in Sidney, Maine

Time of Year: 
February 8-10, 2019 (2nd weekend in February annually)

Ages Welcomed to Play:
Adults 18+

Size of the Tournament: 
70+ teams in 9 divisions

Special Entertainment:
Games under the lights & welcome skate on Friday night, beer garden, and a player social on Saturday evening.

Any Special Vendors:
Spectrum Healthcare Partners, Bud Light, Camden National Bank

What Sets This Tournament Apart:
We think their trophies set Maine Pond Hockey Classic apart from any other tournament, as they are certainly one of a kind, and on top of that there is a solid mix of divisions. Players come with great attitudes. The tournament takes place at an amazing venue & backdrop as the Snow Pond Center for the Arts is located at a summer camp with over 80 years for summer traditions. Lastly the tournament is easily accessible, located within 10 minutes for I-95 and two of Maine’s larger Communities (Waterville & Augusta). 

Third Assist's Take: 
This tournament is the go-to tournament for experiencing the Pine Tree State. Before Third Assist was based in Maine we had heard about this tournament in pond hockey circles. Now we find ourselves just one hour from this tournament and we know we will be making a visit this coming winter. Fun tournament in a winter wonderland and the proceeds go to a good cause. We'll be there. 

​Where to Learn More About This Tournament: 
www.mainepondhockey.org
www.facebook.com/mainepondhockey
www.twitter.com/mainepondhockey

*All photos used by permission from tournament.

Location of Tournament:
Chenango Valley State Park (New York)

Time of Year: 
Multiple tournaments over multiple weekends-
January 12-13 is the Youth House Tournament
January 18-20 is the College Level Tournament
January 25-27 is the Adult Tournament
February 8-10 is the 10 and under Tournament

Size of the Tournament: 
Each Tournament (weekend) features 250-300 active players

Special Entertainment:
Varies by weekend and audience but in year's past there's been fireworks, animal interactions, local live music, sledding and more. Various vendors attend as well.

What Sets This Tournament Apart:
This is the only tournament with mechanical refrigeration in a state park setting. That means nearly-guaranteed ice in a beautiful part of the state. Also, proceeds from the tournament go to local DIFD programs for youth suicide prevention and youth mental health awareness. 

Third Assist's Take: 
Stable, eye-catching setting with multiple weekends to take part. It's one of a kind for the U.S. 

​Where to Learn More About This Tournament: 
www.bingpondfest.com/
facebook.com/bingpondfest
instagram.com/bingpondfest
twitter.com/bingpondfest
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHP92P0c3ihyMDm1lSSjDA

*All photos used by permission from tournament.

​As part of Third Assist's "Ultimate Pond Hockey Resource" we've reached out to the best pond hockey tournaments taking place this winter in the United States. We want to know where they're at, what makes them unique, and why we should visit this upcoming winter. Safe to say we're sold on the following tournaments.

Ages Welcomed to Play:
18+

Size of the Tournament: 
Can Accept up to 48 Teams: Divisions which accept teams are Open Division, Rink-Rat Division, Senior Division, and a Women's Division.

Special Entertainment:
The tournament features live music on Friday and Saturday nights. It also coincides with the Lake Superior Ice Festival which includes family events and fireworks on the lake at night. 

More about the Ice Festival can be found here: www.lakesuperioricefestival.com

What Sets This Tournament Apart:
 This event is patterned after the World Pond Hockey Championship held in Plaster Rock, New Brunswick. The Great Lakes Pond Hockey Classic began in 2004 and at the time was the only US affiliate/partner of the Plaster Rock Tournament. Some of the key components that sets this tournament apart are that the tournament is volunteer driven, and all profits from the event are directed to the Superior Amateur Hockey Association to positively impact kids lives. The Great Lakes Pond Hockey Classic is the only pond hockey tournament played on the largest fresh water pond in the world and one of the only pond hockey tournaments that includes games played under the lights on Friday night. In an area where hockey tradition and excellence have deep roots, the Great Lakes Pond Hockey Classic embodies the purity of the sport.​

​Third Assist's Take: 
You read the reasons above about what makes this so unique. One might even go so far as say Lake Superior is the largest pond hockey rink in the world. As for facts we can actually back up, the Great Lakes Pond Hockey Classic is a long-standing tournament and is the success model for tournaments taking place in the U.S. This is one of the premier tournaments to register for in the entire Midwest, and all proceeds go to a good cause. Count us in.

​Where to Learn More About This Tournament: 
www.greatlakespondhockey.com
www.facebook.com/greatlakespondhockeyclassic

*All photos used by permission from tournament.