Showdown Hockey Tournaments
Contact Us
Head Director: Brian Harrington
Email: brian@showdowntournaments.com
Why Attend a Showdown Tournament
We are celebrating our 34th year!
Hockey tournaments have been in the Harrington family since 1972. Throughout the years and into the future Showdown Tournaments promises to make each team’s experience fun and competitive. We realize that teams have many different choices and the selection process can be overwhelming, but at Showdown Tournaments quality ranks first.
Over the past 34 years, we have developed sophisticated processes and methods for screening teams, building tournament divisions, scheduling, communicating, and handling logistical aspects. The list below represents our top priorities, and factors you should consider when making your tournament choice.
Well Organized
Showdown Tournaments has learned over the years that keeping the tournaments well organized makes it easier and fun for everyone. Showdown Tournaments begins to organize your team’s tournament experience the day we receive your application.
Showdown Tournaments performs a multitude of tasks to make the tournament well organized and your tournament experience unforgettable.
Some of these tasks include:
- conducting a comprehensive screening process
- reviewing player eligibility
- securing hotel arrangements
- scheduling USA Hockey -certified referees
- creating a convenient game schedule
- organized and experienced and local staff
- comprehensive tournament guide
- and much more
At the tournament, teams seldom have questions since everything has been well planned out before your team’s arrival. Registration will be your primary responsibility when arriving at the rink. This is where team coaches, managers, and players sign in to validate participation. Registration only takes a few minutes to officially sign-in, and then your team can relax and enjoy themselves.
Team Placement Process (Balanced Divisions)
A well-organized tournament really begins with placing teams into well-balanced and competitive divisions. Showdown Tournaments makes every effort to ensure we understand each team’s level of play within and outside of its league.
Competitive classification systems (AA, A, B, C, House Select) vary or have different meanings across the country. Because of this variance, your team will encounter teams that may have different eligibility rules or classification systems that may not necessarily correspond to what you are accustomed to in your particular area.
This is the reason for conducting a comprehensive screening process to ensure proper team placement. This process takes countless hours, but the results are very rewarding!
Game Schedule
Showdown Tournaments issues a final game schedule once it has completed the team placement process. This occurs about two to three weeks prior to the tournament to ensure each team has adequate time to plan their hockey and extracurricular activities.
Schedules seldom change as Showdown Tournaments uses a rigorous validation process before issuing the schedule to the teams, rinks, and referees. We consider travel distance, time gaps between games, and distribution of morning, afternoon, and evening games.
Tournament Staff
Showdown Tournaments provides experienced and knowledgeable staff at each rink for registering teams, scorekeeping games, conducting special events like the Showdown Olympics and Pin Exchange, tracking scores and team placement, and answering general tournament questions.
Each rink has a head tournament director present to address specific tournament questions and any issues that may arise during the tournament.
Referees
Showdown tournaments must use referees certified, trained under USA Hockey, and affiliated with a local referee association. The head referee chooses from level 1, 2, 3 and 4 referees and matches them to the appropriate age groups and levels.
Showdown Tournament relies upon referees to provide coaches official answers to questions regarding rules of play. We stand behind all referee decisions meaning the tournament directors will not overrule the referee’s decision!
Host Rinks
Showdown Tournaments selects the most convenient and well-run rinks in the area to host our tournaments. Well-managed rinks play a key role in keeping the tournaments running on time and providing clean and safe environments to host our activities.
Every rink used by Showdown Tournaments has warming facilities, a snack bar, a pro shop, and plenty of parking. Information about each rink is available on our website.
Host Hotels
Showdown Tournaments secures hotel accommodations for all out-of-town guests at the best locations in the area at affordable rates. The hotels are conveniently located to all of the rinks and have a multitude of restaurants and shopping centers at your convenience.
It’s imperative that you understand that each host hotel supports the cost of the tournament. Absent their support there would be no tournament! In return for their support, all of our guests stay at the host hotels at a discounted group rate.
Tournament Activities
Showdown Tournaments provides all players with two fun-filled events outside regular games. We encourage all teams to participate in the Showdown Olympics and Pin Exchange to make the most of your tournament experience.
The Showdown Skills Event has been a highlight at each Showdown Tournament with many great memories for all participating teams. It offers a unique experience for team building while having fun. The competition is organized to allow each player on every team to participate in at least one event. The Showdown Olympic events provide teams with a less serious atmosphere and are designed to be team spirited.
The Pin Exchange is a great opportunity for teams to trade or exchange pins or other keepsakes with other teams. It also provides the opportunity to engage in off-ice conversation and make new friends.
Awards and Giveaways
Each player participating in the tournament receives a unique souvenir to hold onto their tournament memories for years to come. Each team advancing to the championship game receives individual trophies and the championship team receives a banner to put on display for everyone to see at their home rink. At the Showdown Skills Event, players receive customized gold, silver, and bronze medals for first, second, and third place.
We thank past teams for their continued support and look forward to sharing the Showdown Hockey Tournament experience with new teams as we celebrate our 34th year!
Showdown Youth Hockey Tournaments
Showdown Hockey Tournaments
Experience FUN and COMPETITIVE hockey at all levels with Showdown Tournaments.
Our goal is to create an environment for all participants to feel like winners and to be a part of something good. To accomplish our goal we build competitive divisions, provide state-of-the-art fun through our Showdown Skills Event, and give each participant and family a memorable experience to savor for a lifetime.
With over 30 years of hosting tournaments in the Washington D.C. area, Maryland and Nashville, Tennessee, we are the go-to for your tournament weekend.
What you get at a Showdown Tournament:
- 3 days of hockey
- 4 game guarantee
- Showdown Skills Event – a fun and exhilarating skill event
- Pin Exchange
- Player Souvenir
- Family-run, Experienced Tournament Staff
We thank past teams for their continued support and look forward to sharing the Showdown Hockey Tournament experience with new teams as we celebrate our 34th year!
Showdown Tournaments Featured
We are honored to be featured in the Holiday Issue of USA Hockey Magazine in Behind the Glass with The Hockey Mom – Christie Casciano Burns.
Check it out here – Proper Tourney Planning
Guest on Our Kids Play Hockey’s Podcast, we talked everything youth hockey tournament related.
Check out the episode here – Turning Youth Hockey Tournaments into Unforgettable Experiences with Showdown Hockey Tournaments
Our Kids Play Hockey is an award winning podcast offering insights, stories, and advice about youth hockey. The podcast is a treasure trove for parents, coaches, and young athletes, blending expert views with real-life experiences in the hockey community.
In the recent episode featuring Showdown Tournaments, listeners were treated to an in-depth discussion about our tournaments’ impact on youth hockey. The episode delves into the core values that drive Showdown Tournaments: fostering a competitive spirit, encouraging teamwork, and promoting sportsmanship among young athletes, while maintaining the FUN!
2024-2025 LINKS and DATES
December 27-29, 2024 | Washington D.C. area, Maryland
March 14-16, 2025 | Nashville, Tennessee
March 14-16, 2025 | Washington D.C. area, Maryland
Showdown Skills Event
Enjoy the excitement of our Showdown Skills Event!
If you have never been to one of our tournaments, you are missing out on a fan-favorite event!
Book Your Discovery Call
We’re here to answer your questions about how your team can participate in a Showdown Tournament.
Tournament Registration
2024-2025 Tournament Registration is Open.
Registration closes:
9/15/24 for Country & Western
10/15/24 for Crabtown
11/15/24 for Capital
Youth Hockey Tournaments | Washington D.C. area & Nashville, TN Celebrating 34 years 4 games + Showdown Skills Event
SHOWDOWN TOURNAMENTS
1321 Swan Drive
Annapolis, MD 21409
410-757-5205
CRABTOWN SHOWDOWN
Maryland • Dec 27-29, 2024
Register by: 10/15/24
COUNTRY & WESTERN SHOWDOWN
Tennessee • March 14-16, 2025 Register by 9/15/24
CAPITAL SHOWDOWN
Maryland • March 14-16, 2025 Register by 11/15/24
