Program Overview

U.S. Pond Hockey Championships
Minneapolis, Minnesota
January 29–31, 2027

The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships bring teams from across the country together in Minneapolis for one of the premier outdoor hockey tournaments in the United States.

Played outdoors on natural ice, the USPHC combines competitive pond hockey, championship tradition and the unmistakable atmosphere of hockey in Minnesota.

Event: U.S. Pond Hockey Championships
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Dates: January 29–31, 2027
Format: 4-on-4 Pond Hockey
Registration: Team-based registration
Divisions: Multiple competitive, recreational and age-based divisions
Experience: Three days of outdoor hockey and championship competition in the State of Hockey

Program Description

The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships bring pond hockey players from across the country to Minneapolis for a weekend celebrating the game in its purest form.

Teams compete outdoors on natural ice in a 4-on-4 format without goalies, battling through preliminary-round games for an opportunity to advance to the championship rounds.

From highly competitive divisions to recreational and age-based play, the USPHC offers a place for players from across the pond hockey community to compete on one of the game's most recognized stages.

It's cold air, open ice, championship hardware and three days dedicated to the game we grew up playing.

Hockey the Way Nature Intended.

Program Detail

Date: January 29–31, 2027
Venue: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Team Fee: $1,200 per team, including a $300 non-refundable deposit.

Tournament Format: The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships are a 4 vs. 4 round-robin pond hockey tournament played outdoors on natural ice.

Games consist of two 15-minute halves with a 2-minute break between halves.

Teams compete in preliminary-round games throughout Friday and Saturday, with playoff and championship rounds taking place Sunday for teams that qualify.

All divisions allow a minimum roster size of 4 players and a maximum roster size of 8 players.

The maximum number of players per team is eight, with no exceptions. This roster limit is maintained to preserve the integrity of the tournament and the traditional pond hockey experience, including the role endurance and fatigue play throughout individual games and the tournament weekend.

Registration

Registration is completed on a team basis by the team's designated captain.

The captain is responsible for:

• Completing the team registration
• Selecting the appropriate division
• Submitting full payment
• Providing an accurate team roster
• Ensuring all players complete required registration information and waivers

Registration is not complete until the team fee has been paid in full and the team's entry has been confirmed.

Divisions

Teams should register for the division that most accurately reflects the age and playing ability of their roster. View Divisions - Click Here

Pond Hockey Classic reserves the right to review team placement and adjust divisions when necessary to protect competitive balance and the integrity of the tournament.

Rosters & Player Eligibility

All players must meet the eligibility requirements of their registered division.

Players must be properly registered and may be required to provide identification verifying age or eligibility.

A player may only compete for one team during the tournament.

Final Rosters are due the Monday before your tournament.

Schedules

Final game schedules will be released the Wednesday the week before the tournament.

Teams should plan to be available for play throughout the published tournament dates. Specific game times cannot be guaranteed prior to the release of the official schedule.

Outdoor & Natural Ice Conditions

The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships are played outdoors and are inherently dependent upon weather and ice conditions.

Tournament organizers reserve the right to modify rink locations, schedules, game lengths, tournament structure or the number of games when conditions require.

All decisions will be made with player safety and the ability to successfully operate the tournament as the primary considerations.

Thank you for your interest in the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships.

We look forward to welcoming your team to Minneapolis and seeing you on the ice.

Hockey the Way Nature Intended.