Frequently Asked Questions at Showdown Hockey Tournaments
Yes, all events are sanctioned by USA Hockey.
• 24th Crabtown Sanction: SEMD242559
• 34th Country & Western Sanction: SETM242561
• 16th Capital Sanction: SEMD242560
Acceptance is on a first come first serve basis so we recommend taking your team vote and registering ASAP.
You don’t want to miss out!
Registration Deadlines:
- 24th Crabtown 10/15/24
- 34th Country & Western 9/15/24
- 16th Capital 11/15/24
Our application process page includes links to the registration form and online payment option.
• Payment can be made using electronic payment.
• PayPal, which includes a small processing fee.
•Regular mail, a check or money order payable to Showdown Tournaments. Please contact us for details. Checks must be sent the same week as you register.
Go Behind The Scenes with Showdown Hockey Tournaments
Discover the legacy behind Showdown Tournaments with the founders, Brian & Whitney. Dive into our journey of passion, family, fun, and unforgettable youth hockey experiences.
Give our latest blog a read and be sure to share it with your hockey families.
We host divisions for every classification, and at all age levels. So whether your team is a house or an elite travel team up to AA, we can find a spot for your team to compete.
Our detailed screening process goes beyond the typical tournament. Every team’s record, team’s played and if needed, we’ll contact you to talk more about the best placement. We do this to insure teams can respectfully compete.
“To win the game is great. To play the game is greater. To love the game is the greatest of all.” — Bob O’Connor
Showdown Tournaments are stay-to-play tournaments.
As a condition of acceptance, all out-of-town teams of 60 miles or more from your home rink must stay at a host hotel at the group rate contracted by Showdown Tournaments.
Showdown Tournaments has secured room blocks for all out-of-town teams participating in one of our tournaments. Teams cannot negotiate other rates, book internet rates, or use reward points.
The hotel process begins with teams completing the hotel rooming list as part of the application process.
About 4-5 weeks prior to the tournament team managers receive a list of the hotel choices to rank in priority order.
About 3-4 weeks prior to the tournament, Showdown Tournaments submits the rooming list to the sales contact at each respective hotel. Shortly after that, the hotel sales contact will reach out to the team manager to finalize hotel rooms and needs, as well as credit cards.
2-3 weeks prior to the tournament
This screening process takes about 4-6 weeks to complete. The schedule itself takes about 1 week to complete as many reviews are performed to ensure the schedule is error-free. Showdown Tournaments will issue the schedule to rinks first for approval, then to the teams and referees. This occurs about 2-3 weeks prior to the tournament.
Because the screening process has many phases it takes countless hours to finalize the divisions to ensure competitive play for everyone.
Only for a religious holiday.
If you are coaching more than one team participating in the tournament, please let us know.
Requesting specific game times reduces our scheduling flexibility and impacts all other participating teams’ schedules.
All teams must be prepared to play at the earliest and latest scheduled game time.
Plan Ahead
Crabtown and Country & Western games start around 7 am or 8 am on the first day and end around 6 pm-7 pm on the last day.
Capital Showdown starts around 1 pm on the first day and ends around 7 pm on the last day.
Each team will play at least one game every day of the tournament.
It’s possible…
We attract teams from several leagues so even our local teams get an out-of-town experience.
We try to limit the number of teams from the same league and do our best to not pair those teams up for regular tournament games.
We cannot control placement for quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals.
Until you receive your tournament guide please do not contact the hotel directly.
The tournament guides are issued 3-4 weeks prior to the event leaving you ample time to confirm or adjust your room requests.
Teams are assigned to a hotel on a first come first serve basis.
Each rink has a registration table where players sign in before their first tournament game. This applies to U10-U18.
U8 & U6 teams are not required to sign in.
Managers will complete the game scoresheet using pre-printed labels for all 3 copies (white, pink, and yellow) or handwrite all players’ and coaches’ names and numbers for each game.
The Showdown Skills Event is a team skills event with multiple activities happening at the same time.
Awards: Souvenir for all players, plus medals for first, second, and third place.
We highly recommend teams participate in the Showdown Skills Event as this is the highlight of the tournament and a most unforgettable event. While we recommend this event, teams are not required to participate. If your entire team is not available you can participate, just contact us. The Showdown Skills Event occur in the evening, ranging from 5pm-10pm, of the first and second day of tournament. Your team will be assigned to participate one of those days.
For more information and details about the Showdown Skills Event
There are two sessions for your team during the Showdown Skills Event. The Skills Skills Event Session and Showdown Relay.
Skills Competition Session- you cannot double up players, they can only do one event. If your team does not have enough players to do all skills competitions, realign your players so each event is covered and tournament staff will work with your team accordingly.
Showdown Relay – If you do not have enough players, your team will be permitted to double up. Be sure to let the tournament staff know, so your team relay lineup is set.
The Pin Exchange is an optional event that we hope your team will participate in.
You will select your option in your tournament team application.
As the tournament date approaches a list of teams participating will be available for your team manager to know who is participating.
The highly recommended Pin Companies we work with –
Lori at Pin Zone, Adam at Mission Awards and GS-JJ. Click on the links below and let them know we sent you.
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We highly recommend one of our Tournament Pin Companies!
PinZone has made our pins since 2005!
Or, if you need assistance in purchasing pins or other giveaways (e.g. pucks, patches) contact us or Adam Gustafson from Mission Awards.
The pins will need to be ordered well in advance of the tournament. The best practices for team hockey pins are to have a pin parent or club representative order pins to have at the beginning of the season. If you are looking for hockey pins for a single tournament, give 6-8 weeks at a minimum.
The Pin Exchange is an optional event. Let us know if your team will participate and as the tournament date approaches a list of teams participating will be available for your team to know who is participating.
Tournament officials will be assigned to score keep each game.
Teams should designate one person to work the penalty box for each tournament game.
Any game misconduct is official and the tournament director cannot override the referee’s decision.
Players receiving a game misconduct must sit out the next tournament or league game.
