If you need pins fast, we recommend GS-JJ.com, they have no minimums and special offers often. Mention Showdown Tournaments in your order. Another highly recommended Pin Guy is John Gessner of Rising Associates. They have secured our medals, banners, hats, and pins since 2019.

***If you need pins 2 weeks out we recommend Sticker Mule.

They make acrylic pins with a 4-business-day turnaround. For first-time orders they offer $10 off with our referral code. Showdown’s Sticker Mule Code

When you have your game schedule, you will know when you are playing the teams in your division and can coordinate your pin exchange. Another great time is before your group’s scheduled Showdown Skills Event Time.

This is an informal event where your team can exchange pins or other memorabilia with teams in your division and outside your division. Reach out to the other teams in your division or ask before your game to exchange your pins.

• Figuring out the number of pins per player should be based on your budget. Some teams come with 3-4 pins per player to trade, while others have more. Also, consider of the players want to keep a pin, or parents. Divisions at 8U are usually 8 teams and teams are weclome to trade with any teams in the tournament.
  
  • You can use your club’s logo or create your own special pin. You can also decide to exchange/trade something else with your club’s logo – pucks, bracelets…

The Pin Exchange is optional and a fun way to collect mementos of the tournament experience. The best time to exchange and look for teams is before and after your Showdown Skills Event, because all the teams in the division are in the same place, at the same time. Not all of the players on your team need to participate, it’s totally up to you and your team. Some players are enthusiastic about collecting the pins and others are more reserved. We want it to be fun for all.

On our end, we do not schedule specific times for the Pin Exchange. We did that in the past and it wasn’t the best way to exchange pins. The best time to exchange pins is before or after your team’s skills event.

As far as the players exchanging, there is not a must-do way. Some teams have lanyards, pin books, or even plastic bags to hold their pins.

Important reminder: treat the pins as valuables and not leave them lying around unattended or hanging in the locker room.

Once the schedule ready to publish, we will break the age divisions down into Group Numbers.

This way, you can connect with other teams that you may have missed or not seen during the tournament weekend.

Here’s a link to our Pin Trading Blog for more information on hockey pins and pin trading history.