Comprehensive List of 2026 U.S. Pond Hockey Tournaments
We started the effort to find all US Pond Hockey Tournaments back in 2022. For the 2026 season, we've once again attempted to build one of the most comprehensive directories of pond hockey tournaments in the United States.
This list is organized state by state and includes both confirmed 2026 tournaments and historical or returning tournaments whose 2026 status has not been independently confirmed.
We've also linked our own Third Assist Tournament Spotlights where we've previously taken a deeper look at an event.
Because natural-ice tournaments can be postponed, relocated or cancelled due to weather, always verify the latest details with the tournament organizer before traveling.
Directory Key
✓ Verified 2026 — We found an official or reliable source confirming the 2026 event.
○ Returning / 2026 Unverified — The tournament has existed or was announced in earlier directories, but we haven't independently confirmed its 2026 edition.
× Cancelled / Inactive — Known tournament that did not operate in 2026 or appears to have become inactive.
Alaska
✓ Last Frontier Pond Hockey Classic
Location: Big Lake, Alaska
2026 Status: Verified
One of the most distinctive pond hockey settings in the country, the Last Frontier Pond Hockey Classic is held at Burkeshore Marina on Big Lake and supports the Scotty Gomez Foundation.
○ HACA on the Linn Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Soldotna, Alaska
A Kenai Peninsula community pond hockey event that has appeared in previous Third Assist tournament directories.
Evergreen Pond Hockey Championships in Colorado
Colorado
✓ The Golden Pick Tommyknocker Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Creede, Colorado
Dates: January 17–18, 2026
Played at roughly 8,900 feet beneath the cliffs outside Creede, The Golden Pick may have one of the most dramatic settings of any pond hockey tournament in America. The three-on-three tournament attracts teams from around the country.
Official Tournament Information
✓ Grand Lake Pond Hockey Classic
Location: Grand Lake, Colorado
2026 Status: Verified
Every winter, pond hockey takes over the frozen surface of Grand Lake with Colorado's snow-covered mountains surrounding the rinks.
Official Grand Lake Pond Hockey Classic Website
✓ Evergreen Pond Hockey Championship
Location: Evergreen, Colorado
A longstanding tournament on Evergreen Lake featuring multiple skill divisions and easy access from Denver.
Third Assist Tournament Spotlight: Read our Evergreen Pond Hockey Championship Spotlight
○ Pabst Colorado Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Silverthorne, Colorado
○ 9280 Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Keystone, Colorado
○ Colorado Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Dillon, Colorado
○ Dawg Nation Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Copper Mountain, Colorado
Connecticut
○ Berger Hockey Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Winchester Center, Connecticut
A smaller New England community pond hockey tournament that has appeared in previous Third Assist directories.
Idaho
✓ Idaho Pond Hockey Classic
Location: Ketchum / Sun Valley, Idaho
2026 Status: Verified
The annual Pond Hockey Classic at Christina Potters Outdoor Ice Rink brings outdoor hockey to one of the country's best-known mountain destinations.
Tournament Information at Visit Sun Valley
○ Lakeside Lodge Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Island Park, Idaho
○ Stanley Skating Club Draw Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Stanley, Idaho
Illinois
○ Lake in the Hills Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Lake in the Hills, Illinois
A longtime community event played at Indian Trail Beach.
Third Assist Tournament Spotlight: Read our Lake in the Hills Pond Hockey Tournament Spotlight
○ Lindy's Landing Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Wauconda, Illinois
○ Chicago Outdoor Hockey League
Location: Chicago, Illinois
An outdoor winter hockey league rather than a traditional one-weekend pond tournament.
Iowa
○ Hockey Days Iowa
Location: Carlisle, Iowa
○ Northwest Iowa Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Kingsley, Iowa
Walking out to the Maine Pond Hockey Classic
Maine
✓ Maine Pond Hockey Classic
Location: Oakland, Maine
Adult Dates: February 6–8, 2026
Youth Dates: February 13–15, 2026
The Maine Pond Hockey Classic features 12 natural-ice rinks, four-on-four hockey and no goalies. The tournament expected more than 80 teams for its 2026 event.
Official Maine Pond Hockey Classic Website
✓ Rangeley Pond Hockey
Location: Haley Pond, Rangeley, Maine
Dates: February 6–8, 2026
Rangeley's tournament brings teams onto Haley Pond for a full weekend of traditional outdoor hockey.
Official 2026 Event Information
○ Acadian Pond Hockey Classic
Location: St. Agatha, Maine
Another northern Maine pond hockey tradition.
Third Assist Tournament Spotlight: Read our Acadian Pond Hockey Classic Spotlight
○ Thompson's Point Pond Hockey Classic
Location: Portland, Maine
Massachusetts
○ Shrewsbury Youth Hockey Pond Hockey Classic
Location: Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
○ Backyard Classic Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Woburn, Massachusetts
Michigan
✓ Labatt Blue U.P. Pond Hockey Championship
Location: Moran Bay, St. Ignace, Michigan
Dates: February 12–15, 2026
This is one of the great destination pond hockey tournaments in the United States. Teams play on natural ice along the Lake Huron shoreline with downtown St. Ignace and the Straits of Mackinac nearby.
The St. Ignace event page has published the 2026 tournament results, confirming that the tournament successfully returned to Moran Bay.
Third Assist Tournament Spotlight: Read our Labatt Blue U.P. Pond Hockey Tournament Spotlight
○ Michigan Pond Hockey Classic
Location: Whitmore Lake, Michigan
Historically one of Michigan's biggest pond hockey weekends, with approximately 100 teams participating during its peak years.
Third Assist Tournament Spotlight: Read our Michigan Pond Hockey Classic Spotlight
○ Spencer Park Pond Hockey Classic
Location: Rochester Hills, Michigan
○ Suttons Bay Township Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Suttons Bay, Michigan
○ Lexington Youth Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Lexington, Michigan
○ Dekes and Dangles Pond Hockey Invitational
Location: Wyoming, Michigan
Minnesota
✓ U.S. Pond Hockey Championships
Location: Lake Nokomis, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Dates: January 23–25, 2026
One of the most recognizable pond hockey tournaments in the world, the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships became part of the Pond Hockey Classic family beginning with the 2026 season.
Official Pond Hockey Classic Website
✓ Southern Minnesota Pond Hockey Championship
Location: Lake Sisseton, Fairmont, Minnesota
Dates: January 9–11, 2026
The tournament supports Fairmont Youth Hockey and features both adult and youth competition. Weather ultimately required the 2026 event to adjust from its original natural-ice plans.
Official 2026 Event Information
✓ Detroit Lakes Pond Hockey Classic
Location: Little Detroit Lake, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Dates: February 7–8, 2026
A growing northern Minnesota event featuring four-on-four play, no goalies and traditional pond hockey goals.
Official DL Pond Hockey Classic Website
○ North American Pond Hockey Championship
Location: Lake Minnetonka area, Minnesota
○ Belle Plaine Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Belle Plaine, Minnesota
○ Anthony Ford Pond Hockey Classic
Location: North Mankato, Minnesota
A longstanding charity tournament with deep roots in southern Minnesota hockey.
○ Granite City Pond Hockey
Location: St. Cloud, Minnesota
○ Green Lake Pond Hockey Championships
Location: Spicer, Minnesota
○ Winterfest Pond Hockey
Location: Bemidji, Minnesota
○ Northwoods Pond Hockey Classic
Location: Nisswa, Minnesota
○ Brainerd Pond Hockey Jamboree
Location: Brainerd, Minnesota
Montana
× No active 2026 tournament confirmed
Several Montana pond hockey events have existed historically, but our research did not turn up an independently verified active 2026 tournament.
Rather than list questionable events as active, we'll continue monitoring the state for future tournaments.
New Hampshire
✓ New England Pond Hockey Classic
Location: Lake Winnipesaukee, Meredith, New Hampshire
Dates: January 30–February 1, 2026
One of the biggest pond hockey weekends anywhere in the country. The event regularly attracts hundreds of teams to dozens of rinks on Lake Winnipesaukee.
Official New England Pond Hockey Classic Website
Third Assist Tournament Spotlight: Read our Pond Hockey Classic / Labatt Lineup Spotlight
○ Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Concord, New Hampshire
○ Laura Foundation Youth Pond Hockey Festival
Location: Madison, New Hampshire
Held on Purity Lake near King Pine Ski Area and focused on youth pond hockey.
Third Assist Tournament Spotlight: Read our Laura Foundation Youth Pond Hockey Festival Spotlight
New York
✓ Binghamton Pond Festival — Bing Pond Fest
Location: Binghamton area, New York
Tournament Weekends: January 16–18 and January 30–February 1, 2026
Bing Pond Fest has developed into one of New York's most established pond-style tournament series, offering multiple adult skill divisions and women's competition.
Official Bing Pond Fest Website
✓/Announced CAN/AM Lake Placid Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Lake Placid, New York
CAN/AM lists an outdoor pond hockey event at Lake Placid's historic Olympic Oval. Check the organizer for the latest scheduling information.
Official CAN/AM Pond Hockey Page
○ Saratoga Frozen Springs Classic
Location: Saratoga Springs, New York
○ Adirondack Ice Bowl Pond Hockey Festival
Location: Inlet, New York
○ PX Pond Hockey Festival
Location: Buffalo, New York
○ 1000 Islands Pond Hockey Festival
Location: Alexandria Bay, New York
○ Central Park Classic Hockey Tournament
Location: Central Park, New York City
○ Buffalo Backyard Classic
Location: Buffalo, New York
○ Northwood School Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Lake Placid, New York
○ High Falls Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Macedon, New York
○ Big Apple Pond Hockey Classic
Location: New York City
○ Syracuse Pond Hockey Classic
Location: Syracuse, New York
○ Erie County Pond Hockey Invitational
Location: Lancaster, New York
North Dakota
○ North Dakota Ice Hole Extravaganza Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Devils Lake, North Dakota
× Fargo Pond Hockey Classic
Location: Fargo, North Dakota
The Fargo Park District announced that the 2026 Fargo Pond Hockey Classic was cancelled. The event is still worth keeping on the historical list in case it returns in future seasons.
Pennsylvania
○ Pocono Pond Hockey Tournament / Wally Ice Fest
Location: Lake Wallenpaupack, Pennsylvania
○ Outdoor Classic Hockey Tournament
Location: Heritage Hills Resort, York, Pennsylvania
Outdoor tournament programming has historically operated at Heritage Hills.
Third Assist related feature: Read our Avalanche Xpress Outdoor Classic Spotlight
Rhode Island
× No active 2026 tournament confirmed
Known Rhode Island pond hockey events appear to have gone inactive in recent years.
South Dakota
○ Iron Creek Classic Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Spearfish, South Dakota
A Black Hills pond hockey event that has been part of Third Assist's tournament coverage in the past.
Third Assist Tournament Spotlight: Read our Iron Creek Classic Spotlight
Utah
○ Park City Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Park City, Utah
A mountain pond hockey event previously listed for March.
Vermont
✓ Lake Champlain Pond Hockey Classic
Location: Malletts Bay, Colchester, Vermont
Dates: February 6–8, 2026
The Vermont stop of the Pond Hockey Classic series typically brings more than 100 teams to outdoor rinks on Lake Champlain.
Official Lake Champlain Pond Hockey Classic Website
Third Assist Tournament Spotlight: Read our Pond Hockey Classic / Labatt Lineup Spotlight
○ Frostbite Faceoff — Legend of the Yeti Cup
Location: Lake Morey, Fairlee, Vermont
A destination pond hockey weekend known for multiple divisions, Friday Night Lights games and a resort setting.
Third Assist Tournament Spotlight: Read our Frostbite Faceoff Spotlight
○ Vermont Pond Hockey Championships
Location: Lake Morey, Fairlee, Vermont
○ Frozen Unicorn / Boston Pride Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Fairlee, Vermont
The Sand County Classic in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
✓ USA Hockey Pond Hockey National Championships
Location: Eagle River, Wisconsin
Dates: January 30–February 1, 2026
One of the largest organized pond hockey tournaments in the United States. USA Hockey's official 2025–26 calendar lists the event in Eagle River from January 30 through February 1.
Official USA Hockey Pond Hockey Website
Third Assist Tournament Spotlight: Read our USA Hockey / Pond Hockey Classic Spotlight
✓ American Pond Hockey Invitational
Location: Minocqua, Wisconsin
2026 Status: Verified
American Pond Hockey opened registration for its 2026 Invitational and continues to build a major outdoor hockey destination in Wisconsin's Northwoods.
Official American Pond Hockey Website
✓ Sand County Classic
Location: Sand Valley / Rome, Wisconsin
Dates: January 30–February 1, 2026
Held at Sand Valley, the Sand County Classic combines pond hockey with one of the most unusual resort settings in the sport.
Official Sand County Classic Information
Third Assist Tournament Spotlight: Read our 2024 Sand County Classic Spotlight
○ Great Lakes Pond Hockey Classic
Location: Superior, Wisconsin
Historically held alongside the Lake Superior Ice Festival.
Third Assist Tournament Spotlight: Read our Great Lakes Pond Hockey Classic Spotlight
○ Winter Carnival Connolly Classic
Location: Lake Mendota / Madison, Wisconsin
○ Door County Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin
○ Wisconsin Pond Hockey Tournament
Location: Wausau, Wisconsin
○ Otter Street Pond Hockey Nationals
Location: Oshkosh, Wisconsin
○ Center Street Hoser Mid-Winter Classic
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
○ Konkel Cup Pond Hockey Classic
Location: Greenfield, Wisconsin
States Where We Haven't Verified a 2026 Pond Hockey Tournament
Pond hockey events have appeared over the years in additional states, but we have not found enough reliable information to include a named 2026 tournament from them in this edition.
That doesn't necessarily mean outdoor hockey isn't being played there. Smaller tournaments are frequently organized by local hockey associations, breweries, charities, winter festivals, municipalities and groups of players with little permanent web presence.
If we've missed one, send it our way.
Help Us Build the Most Complete U.S. Pond Hockey Directory
This directory is intended to be a living resource.
Pond hockey can be particularly difficult to document because many tournaments operate almost entirely through Facebook pages, local recreation departments and word of mouth. Wild ice also means a tournament can operate for ten straight winters, disappear during a warm season, and return a year later.
If you organize a pond hockey tournament—or know of one we're missing—contact Third Assist.
We'll continue updating this page as tournaments are confirmed.
And if you're simply looking for somewhere to skate outdoors rather than compete, check out Third Assist's Interactive Hockey Map for outdoor hockey locations across North America.
About Third Assist
Third Assist was founded around a love of hockey's heritage: frozen ponds, leather gloves, wood sticks and the parts of the game worth preserving.
Our Hockey Heritage Journal includes tournament spotlights, hockey history, outdoor rink resources and stories from hockey communities around North America.
If you're headed to a pond hockey tournament this winter, we'll see you out there.