Mark Your Calendars For The Biggest Events of the “Offseason”

Let’s be honest, hockey season never ends. Critics will point to burnout and the negative impact of specialization in sports. Advocates will say that kids are constantly looking to get better and improve their game. Pros, cons, positives, negatives, good, bad and ugly. Wherever you’re at on the spectrum regarding spring and summer hockey, it really boils down to a personal preference and what’s best for each individual.

For the hockey hungry, puck crazy athletes and families, WHH has compiled a calendar of some of the best spring and summer hockey tournaments in the world. From breath-taking destinations to elite-level exposure, this list of 10 events has something for everyone in youth hockey. 

10 World Hockey Championships 

(Philadelphia, USA) A new event in 2021, it has drawn the interest of some very strong North American spring selects teams. Operated by the team at Play Hockey, and is one-of-30 tournaments run by the organization. This year’s event is slated to feature teams at the 2004, 2005 and 2006-birth years in June and July with a five-game guarantee. There are currently 63 North American teams registered across all three age groups.

9 Atlantic International Trophy 

(Exeter, New Hampshire) The Atlantic International Trophy (AIT) is an up-and-coming event that prides itself on attracting a diverse pool of teams greater than your average summer showcase. Slated for the second weekend in July, the AIT will feature an ‘04-05 combined division as well as ‘06 and ‘07 divisions, with teams from the U.S., Canada and Europe on the invite list. This New England city won’t disappoint either, with plenty of tourist attractions in the area.

8 Finland Lions Cup

(Finland) The Finland Lions Cup was a European summer event before the idea of summer events in Europe ever existed. Run by Pelimatkat, the event operates like a well-oiled machine with good competition that attracts a nice mix of Scandinavian and Russian teams each year. North American teams would be considered a novelty, and any organization willing to travel would be treated like royalty, welcomed with open arms. The event is held in the middle of the summer camp season, providing a tournament-camp combo option for those interested as well.

7 Chowder Cup

(Foxboro, Massachusetts) An iconic East Coast event nestled in the New England hockey hotbed of Massachusetts. If bigger is better, then there are few events that would top the Chowder Cup in size. Multiple age groups competing over multiple weekends spread out over a large geographical region. The talent level varies from super selects AAA all-star teams to AA-level teams that all compete in one open division.   

6 Eurofest Summer Hockey Festival

(Europe, various locations) DraftDay and World Hockey Group – Europe teamed up to present the Eurofest Summer Festival. The event caters to a broad audience of AAA-level talent and hosts six different birth years on three different weekends in three different European destinations. Prague, Reykjavik and Stockholm are the host cities for 202. Attendees are treated to opening ceremonies and exclusive player parties with a festive atmosphere. It feels more like a play-cation combining beautiful locations with great competition for an unforgettable experience. 

5 Draft Day International Prospects Showcase 

(Oakville, Ontario) The International Prospects Showcase is a relatively new offering but the team at DraftDay has a deep history of success in the youth hockey space. This event is geared towards the best of the best in North America, highlighted by the top-tier local players from Ontario. It has grown wildly in popularity since its inception and pending the lift of COVID restrictions in Canada, should quickly return as a must-attend event.

4 Triple Crown

(Various locations) A series of three events in Montreal, Nashville and Chicago, the Triple Crown by SuperSeries targets the upper echelon of AAA players in North America. The competition level is consistent and strong, and the events run extremely smoothly. The focus here is on the best possible players and it shows, as SuperSeries do a nice job of selecting desirable locations and spots in the events are highly sought after.

3 Montreal Meltdown

(Montreal, Quebec) Loved as much for the location as the hockey event itself. Montreal is a manageable drive from the Eastern U.S. border states, which provides a truly international and timeless feel to the event. It has a level of consistency that reeks of professionalism and win or lose, teams leave feeling like they had a great weekend. The pool of teams is primarily regional to Eastern Canada and New England, with plenty of competition levels and age groups for everyone. 

2 The Brick Invitational

(Edmonton, Alberta) One of the most prestigious events in all of youth hockey. Not only is it hosted in the unique venue of the West Edmonton Mall, it has featured the likes of more than 200 current and former NHL players when they competed at the 10U age level. From the TV broadcast, to the fans hanging over the glass, the environment of the week-long tournament is unparalleled in youth sports and arguably the most coveted roster invite in hockey.

1 World Selects Trophy 

(Various locations) The Granddaddy of all spring and summer events. It has it all, uber-elite talent levels, multiple age groups, amazing venues, breath-taking locations and truly the most international event of its kind. Participants from Russia, Europe, Scandinavia and North America competing in cities like Prague, Bolzano, Stockholm and Mont Blanc. There’s just as much for the parents to enjoy in terms of sightseeing as for the players competing on the ice. The North American event — hosted in Nashville, Tennessee — is the pinnacle of this tournament series, with top 15U selects teams from around the world all in one location for junior and professional scouts to see first-hand. Hundreds of current NHL players and more than 1,000 NCAA athletes have competed in this tournament series from both the boys and girls events. The combination of competition, culture, travel and experience is unparalleled by any one event on the hockey calendar.

Want more from the world of youth hockey? We’ve got more than 80 different upcoming tournaments and events HERE, or you can text us at 603-541-7772 for monthly alerts!

Top Youth Hockey Players In The Alps Region of Central Europe

The National Hockey League is composed of the best hockey players on the planet. There are nearly 800 athletes from 21 different countries competing in the 2021 season. The world of youth hockey is a reflection of the professional landscape, I mean after all, even Connor McDavid got his start playing Mite hockey somewhere.

Youth hockey is filled with top talent from a wide range of countries and regions across the globe, and the team at World Hockey Hub is watching closely. We are constantly looking to identify the biggest up-and-coming names in the sport. Want to catch your first glimpse of a soon-to-be household name? Watch U15 highlights of a future first-round draft pick? Check out a team with a fistful of future pros on the roster? WHH features the absolute best in youth hockey today.

Native region of Swiss defenseman Roman Josi and French forward Alexandre Texier, The Alps has quietly produced 17 players currently rostered in the NHL this season. It spans from eastern France through Switzerland and the northern part of Italy, and into Austria. 

Not typically considered a hotbed, yet some of the best athletes in youth hockey regularly frequent the region for the most competitive international tournaments in existence. Chamonix, France, and Bolzano, Italy, have served as host cities of the U12, U13 and U14 World Selects Trophy (WST) tournament series for nearly a decade.

The team at WHH has identified some of the top players in the region at the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 age groups.

2004s

ALESSIO BEGLIERI: A goaltender out of Biel-Bienne, Switzerland, Beglieri currently plays U20-Elite in the Swiss League. He has represented Team Swiss on three different occasions, twice for the U16 team at World Juniors and the Youth Olympic Games as well as the U17 team at World Juniors. 

TOMMASO De LUCA: He’s a 5-foot-11 forward out of Aosta, Italy, whose spent the last five seasons playing in Swiss leagues. In 33 games for Ambri-Piotta U20, De Luca has 12 goals and 23 points.

2005s

DAMIAN CLARA: A native of Brunico, Italy, Clara is a big goaltender who takes up a lot of net. At 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, he’s spent the 2020-21 season split between U18 RB Hockey Academy and U20 EC Salzburg in Austria. 

TOMMASO MADASCHI: Currently playing for U17 Biel-Bienne Madaschi is a native of Torino, Italy. In his first full season of junior hockey, he has scored five goals and six points in 12 games.

COLIN LINDEMANN: The 15-year-old left-hander played a portion of the 2020-21 season in Sweden while skating for Leksands IF. Currently with Zug U17 in Switzerland, Lindemann has scored a total of seven goals and 11 points in 14 games this season.

2006s

WILLIAM RAIS: A 14-year-old currently playing junior hockey for ZSC U17s in the Elite League, Rais is one of the top young prospects in all of Switzerland.

JUAN-ESTEBAN BARRAUD: Also playing at the U17 level, Barraud has scored seven goals and nine points in 26 games this season. The lone defenseman on the list for his play-making ability and puck skills.

2007s

FLORIAN SCHENK: In his first season at the U15 level, Schenk scored 14 goals and 24 points in 26 games. He’s competed on an international level at both the 2019 WST and the Pee-Wee Quebec in ‘19 and ‘20. Schenk led his team in scoring in all three tournament appearances.

JEREMIAH MUNDY: He’s young at just 13-years-old, but Mundy is already 6-foot and competing at the U17-Elite level for Davos in Switzerland. He has plenty of intangibles to develop into a dominant forward.

JUSTIN ALLAIRE: A one-time teammate of both Schenk and Mundy at the 2019 U12 WST for Alps Selects, Allaire is a great contributor offensively. From Bern, Switzerland, he will certainly be one to keep in mind as this birth year climbs through the youth hockey ranks.

Think we missed a premiere player from the Alps Region? Connect with WHH and let us know! Fill out the form below to get prospects on our radar and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube to see upcoming highlights from the world of youth hockey.

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