AHC Winter Classic

46th ANNUAL ARLINGTON WINTER CLASSIC TOURNAMENT

  NEW THIS YEAR! Jamboree style 1/2 day tournament!

The 46th Annual Arlington Winter Classic Hockey Tournament begins December 21, 2025, and ends January 2, 2026. Jamboree style (22 min games) with 4 teams in each division. Each team is guaranteed a minimum of 4 games (3 for Mites), with the top two teams in each division advancing to the Championship game. The games will be held at the Ed Burns Arena in Arlington.

All age divisions are welcome to participate — including Mites, Squirts, Peewees, Bantams, and the Girls' U10, U12, and U14 divisions.

For more information, or for help with registration, please reach out to Lauren Corsino (L.Corsino17@gmail.com).

Potential dates/times for each division:

Mites: December 21

Mite 1 and 2 1:40-6:30

Mite 3 and 4 8:00-1:00

Squirts: Squirt 1 December 27 8-1:10

Squirt 2 December 29 8-1:10

Squirt 3 December 31 8-1:10

Squirt 4 December 29 1:40-7

Peewee: Peewee 1 December 26 1:40-7

Peewee 2 December 26 8-1:10

Peewee 3 December 30 1:40-7

Bantam: Bantam AAA/AA December 27 1:40-7

U10 Girls: U10A December 28 8-1:10

U10B December 30 8-1:10

U10C January 2 8-1:10

U12 Girls: U12 A December 28 1:40-7

U12 B December 24 8-1:10

U14 Girls: January 2 1:40-7

**All subject to minor changes**

AHC Winter Classic – Jamboree Format

RULES

FULL ICE FORMAT (BANTAM, PEE WEE, SQUIRT, U14, U12, U10)

• Each game will consist of 22 minutes of run-time play. 
• Games will be played at even strength (5 on 5)
• Game time will stop only at the direction of the on-ice referees (injury, etc.)
• Ice will be cleared after every other game

PENALTIES

• Penalties will be assessed but implemented using a “jailbreak” format

• JAILBREAK – when a penalty is assessed, at the conclusion of the play (penalized team has taken control of the puck and the play is dead), the player that drew the penalty will be directed to CENTER ICE. All other players from both teams, with the exception of goalies, will be placed on the BLUE LINE behind the player that has drawn the penalty. On the direction of the referee (whistle), the player at center ice (shooter) will be provided the opportunity for a breakaway while all other players have the opportunity to chase the shooter down. The play results in one of three outcomes described below.

• Shooter scores – team is awarded a goal and play resumes with a center ice faceoff.

• Shooter does not score, goalie makes save - play results in whistle and faceoff in the offensive zone of the team that had drawn the penalty

• Shooter does not score, goalie makes save/shooter misses net – in the event that the goalie makes a save or the shooter misses the net and the puck remains in play, play will then continue uninterrupted with both teams eligible to play the puck. 

• On a penalty call, the player who DREW the penalty will be the shooter. 

ALL other players on the ice at the time of the penalty will form the chase group. 

NO SUBSTITUTIONS AT THIS TIME. 

• With the exception of the penalty format, all other USA Hockey rules will be enforced by on-ice officials up to and including enforcement of major and match penalties. 

• A game will not expire while a penalty call is pending. If, at the end of the period, a penalty is pending, the referee will direct the player who drew the penalty to center ice and all players on the ice at the end of the period to the blue line. The jailbreak will take place with one of two outcomes;
• Shooter scores a goal
• Goalie makes a save/shooter misses net/chase group breaks up shot

• Teams will be awarded the following points in the pool session
• WIN – 2 points
• TIE – 1 point each
• LOSS – 0 points

• At the end of the pool session, semifinals will follow in the following format
• 1st place v. 4th place
• 2nd place v. 3rd place

The winners of the semifinals will then play for the Jamboree Championship

POOL PLAY TIEBREAKERS

• Head-to-Head
• Least Goals Allowed
• Goal Differential
• Least Penalties Assessed
• Coin Toss

SEMIFINAL AND CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RULES

The same format will be used with these exceptions –

• Each team will be allowed one timeout in both the semifinal and championship games
• Overtime – in the event that the game is tied at the end of the period, the overtime session will be played at 3-on-3 for a 5-minute period. 
• If the game remains tied after the 5-minute overtime, the game will be decided by shootout.
• If the game remains tied at the end of the overtime session, a shootout will decide the winner.
• 3 shooters minimum
• If the shootout is tied after each team sends 3 shooters, the shootout will move to “sudden death” shootout. 
• Visiting team shoots first. 
• Home team has the chance to score if the visiting team scores in the “sudden death” frame
• Teams will have all players active for the game shoot if the session continues until a winner is decided.
• Only after all active players have participated in the shootout can a team use a player a second time.

All rules are eligible to be modified by the Tournament Chairman. 

All protests to rules must be brought to the Tournament Chairman by the Head Coach or Acting Head Coach. 

No protests will be heard from spectators. 

AHC Winter Classic – Jamboree Format

RULES

HALF ICE FORMAT (MITES)

• Each game will consist of 22 minute run time play with 2-minute shifts indicated by the buzzer
• Games are played on running time at 4-on-4
• Games will be played according to USA Hockey Rules for U8 play
• Teams will be awarded the following points in the pool session
• WIN – 2 points
• TIE – 1 point each
• LOSS – 0 points

TIEBREAKERS

• Head-to-Head
• Least Goals Allowed
• Goal Differential
• Least Penalties Assessed
• Coin Toss

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RULES

• Pool play rules will apply
• Overtime will consist of one (1) 4-minute overtime session played at 3-on-3. 
• If the game remains tied at the end of the overtime session, a shootout will decide the winner.
• 3 shooters minimum
• If the shootout is tied after each team sends 3 shooters, the shootout will move to “sudden death” shootout. 
• Visiting team shoots first. 
• Home team has the chance to score if the visiting team scores in the “sudden death” frame
• Teams will have all players active for the game shoot if the session continues until a winner is decided.
• Only after all active players have participated in the shootout can a team use a player a second time.

All rules are eligible to be modified by the Tournament Chairman.

All protests to rules must be brought to the Tournament Chairman by the Head Coach or Acting Head Coach. 

No protests will be heard from spectators.