OneHockey 10U worldwide event set for Jan. 2022 in Syracuse
OneHockey, the preeminent hockey tournament company in the world, is gearing up to host what director Sebastien Fortier is calling its signature event – the Syracuse U10 International Invitational.
Scheduled for Jan. 25-30, 2022, the event will be held at the Upstate Medical University Arena at The Oncenter in Syracuse, home of the Syracuse Crunch (American Hockey League) as well as at the Cicero Twin Rinks in nearby Cicero.
The tournament will feature three divisions – AAA Major (2011 birth year), AAA Minor (2012 birth year) and AA combined (2011/2012).
Each division will accept 32 teams and will be divided into eight brackets of four teams. That’s where the games will get interesting, according to Fortier.
“You might have a team from Los Angeles with a team from Detroit, a team from Toronto, and a team from Moscow in one bracket,” Fortier said. “We will be creating the brackets to be competitive games. The best 10U hockey teams will be coming to this event, and many have already committed from across Asia, Europe, Canada, and the United States.
“And of course, the whole tournament will get the OneHockey experience with the music, photographers, mascots, and awards at the end of each game. All the local media will be there, too. The teams will be getting the full red-carpet treatment and hospitality from the second they get to Syracuse until they leave.”
Fortier also mentioned that the Quebec International Pee Wee Hockey Tournament that takes place every year for the past 60-plus years is a similar event, but if a team loses twice, they’re done. Our event will offer three round robin games with the top team in each bracket advancing to the quarterfinals.
“I will say this – the teams that come to our event will have the most fun they have ever had playing hockey,” said Fortier. “We can’t really even compare this to anything we have ever done before. You just can’t.
“This invitational will be a sold-out event every year. Quebec has over 500 teams on its waiting list every year, and that is what’s going to happen with this event. This is going to be huge.”
The tournament will feature three games in a round robin format with possibilities to add exhibition games. There will be three 12-minute periods with no overtime during the round robin. The top teams in each division after the round robin will advance to the quarterfinals.
The 2010 and 2011 Elite teams will all play at least one game at the Upstate Medical University Arena at The Oncenter (7000-seat arena), the home of the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, but not all AA teams will get to play at that rink.
While the tournament is happening, the Crunch is set to have two home games that week, and teams in town will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to see AHL hockey. Semifinals and championships will all be held at the Upstate Medical University Arena.
Registration is now open at 10Uworld.com.
Contact Fortier at sebastienf@onehockey.com if you have questions BEFORE registering your team for a tournament.
“There are no better tournaments to attend with your own team. Period,” said Fortier. “OneHockey is an event. OneHockey tournaments have made a positive mark as some of the top tournaments in North America. We offer a great hockey atmosphere, giveaways, and most of all, great competition. OneHockey is a five-star hockey tournament, and we pride ourselves on being very well organized, with a very unique format unlike any other tournament out there.
“With up-tempo music during all games and throughout the rink, mascots to entertain, we have thought of everything that will ensure that our tournaments are fun.”
— Matt Mackinder
(Dec. 12, 2020)