Whether you are an excited first-timer or a seasoned tournament participant, being prepared before the tournament is incredibly helpful. Have you ever left your helmet, skates or stick at home? How about not being able to find a quick snack before the days filled with hockey? Got lost or stuck in traffic on your way to the tournament… We know, it can happen to anyone.

We share our top five tips to have you prepared for a great youth hockey tournament experience before you get on the road.

Freshly Sharpened Hockey Skates

Have your skates sharpened a practice or two before you leave for the tournament. There’s nothing like sliding around on dull skates or having your skates skip on the ice.

Getting your skates sharpened at your usual place will ensure the cut is the way you prefer and remove some of the jitters of showing up to the rink while the pro shop is backed up or closed.

Pack the Equipment

Air your equipment out to dry first, then go through with a head-to-toe list, ensuring you have every piece, including the mouth guard and stick. It’s a real bummer to travel 100s of miles and realize you left an essential part of your hockey gear behind.

Showdown Hockey Tournament Championship in Washington D.C. area Champions at the Crabtown Showdown

Bonus Tip!

Adding your name to your gear is important too.

There are lots of kids using the locker room and having your name on your gear just might help it find its way back to you. Make a checklist starting from top-to-bottom or bottom-to-top and be sure you have it all! Brian suggests his pro tip of doing the Macarena to have some fun and develop the routine of having all of your equipment!

BYOB and BYOS

Bringing your own breakfast and snacks can be a game saver whether you have a picky eater or not. We always have a few extra granola bars and water packed for every hockey event. This can be helpful to another teammate or family too.

Bring your own Breakfast!

Having a quick on-the-go breakfast you enjoy can be a game-changer. If you have a picky eater, are running late, or just were not hungry when you woke up, having your favorite breakfast options takes the stress level down a few notches.

Bring your own Snacks!

Pack some snacks! It can be a long day at the rink. Traditionally, tournament play goes from pre-dawn to late into the night. Having some healthy snacks you enjoy can keep you full throughout the day. Remember the water as well. Your player will need something to wash down their snack and water is the best option.

Pack Extra Clothing!

Having to wear wet, sweaty clothes all weekend can be a drag. For a weekend away tournament be sure to bring:

  • 2-3 performance shirts (for under your gear)

  • 5-6 pairs of socks

  • 2 changes of clothes

  • a jacket or hoodie

  • your bathing suit (if there is a pool)

  • shoes – sneakers and recovery sandals

  • your toiletries – toothbrush, toothpaste, comb or brush…

Make a list to be sure you have everything you need, and an extra outfit is always a good choice, just in case.

Know your way to the RINK and GO EARLY!

Upload the map to the rink before you head to the tournament. Double-check the start time for your first game and head to the rink with lots of extra time!

Giving yourself extra time helps in case of traffic, or getting lost, and eases some anxiety about the tournament start. From our experience, with tournaments that are located at more than one facility, make extra sure you know the correct rink. A way to be sure is to verify with the team manager and other families. Get everyone on the same page and get ready for a great tournament!

We hope you have an awesome hockey tournament season! We know these tips will get you off on the right skate!

Want more tips on having a great hockey tournament experience, follow us on Social Media. We share what our tournament attendees have to say and our tournament experiences and tips daily. With 30 years experience of organizing youth hockey tournaments, we are the go-to for a great tournament experience. We look forward to having your team participate in a Showdown Tournament!