Every April since 2021, a popular event takes place in the Phoenix area with the Spring Into Squirts mite graduation tournament, a unique event put on by the Arizona Hockey Club.

The weekend is a niche event offering full ice to 8U teams that are moving/graduating into 10U the following fall. This year’s players are 2016 birth years.

“We offer it right after the close of the current season, the conclusion of the USA Hockey National Tournament,” said AHC president Stacy Shupe. “This event is USA Hockey sanctioned. It is the first opportunity to play full-ice games after playing half/cross ice as USA hockey requires for 8U. It really is a fun event where the kids are able to spread out and learn about more aspects of the game that they haven’t been accustomed to, like offside and icing the puck.

“In our five years doing this, we have had tremendous feedback and are attracting teams from outside the Valley. This spring should be our biggest Spring Into Squirts tournament yet and we’re very excited.”

The event offers 12-minute stop periods and medals for runner-up/champions and a championship banner for the winning team.

Registration is open now until March. Cost per team is $1,295 for a four-game guarantee.

For more information and to get your team registered, visit www.SpringIntoSquirtsHockey.com or email info@SpringIntoSquirtsHockey.com.

— Matt Mackinder

(November 6, 2024)