Labor Day Weekend is upon us, and while youth hockey game results officially started counting toward team rankings in the United States as of Aug. 15, the weekend ahead long has been considered the unofficial beginning to the youth hockey season in the United States. And this year, Labor Day Weekend actually is the official start to the girls youth hockey season.in Canada.

Welcome to the party, eh?

The upcoming weekend traditionally is one of the busiest of the youth hockey season, and this year is no different. While there will be tournaments and jamborees going on all over North America, our MHR Weekend Preview will focus on four big Tier 1 tournaments in the United States that will feature many of the traditional American powerhouse clubs. A couple of the events include U.S. Tier 2 teams, and two of them feature Canadian Girls teams in addition to the American squads.

Here are our featured events for Labor Day Weekend 2024: 

• Eastern Alliance Kickoff in Massachusetts for Tier 1 and Tier 2 USA Boys
• Chicago Mission Labor Day Showcase for Tier 1 USA Boys
• Premier Ice Prospects Labor Day Girls Fest in Pittsburgh for Tier 1 USA & Canada Girls
• North American Hockey Academy Labor Day Tournament in Massachusetts for Tier 1 USA & Canada Girls Teams

These four tournaments include many of the top U.S. and Canadian programs, with more than 400 teams competing between Thursday and Monday at the 10U, 12U, 13O 14U, 15O, 16U, 18U and 19U age levels. There even will be a few Canada U22 Girls Tier 1 teams competing in the 19U divisions of the girls tourneys.  

The good news for hockey junkies is that almost all of the tournament games will be played at rinks that feature LiveBarn, so it’s a great opportunity to get a sneak preview of some of the teams we are likely to see competing for national championships in April.

Eastern Alliance Kickoff

The EA Kickoff came together a few years back when the Tier 1 Face-Off and East Coast Classic Labor Day tournaments merged to allow teams from the Unites States Premier Hockey League, Eastern Hockey Federation, BEAST Tournament Series and East Coast Elite League to come together and compete in a high-level early season event. The tournament has grown each year and now is one of the largest Labor Day Tournaments and includes many of the nation’s top Tier 1 USA Boys programs.

 This year’s EA Kickoff has more than 200 Tier 1 and Tier 2 boys teams competing in more than 350 games between Friday and Monday. The tournament is being held in Massachusetts at the New England Sports Center in Marlboro, New England Sports Village in Attleboro, Foxboro Sports Center, Canton Ice House and Cadillac Ice Arena in Walpole. Games should be available for viewing via LiveBarn at each of these rinks.

There will be more than 90 teams competing in six 18U divisions, more than 80 playing at the 16U level, more than 14 playing in the 15O division, 12 in the 14U Division and four in the 13O division.

Many teams competing at the various age levels come from club programs that traditionally send teams to Tier 1 and Tier 2 USA Hockey Nationals. Nationally recognized clubs such as the Boston Jr. Eagles, New Jersey Rockets, Yale Jr. Bulldogs, Neponset Valley River Rats, Long Island Gulls, St. Louis AAA Blues, Mid-Fairfield Jr. Rangers, Buffalo Jr. Sabres and North Jersey Avalanche are among those sending teams to play in the 2024 tournament.

CLICK HERE for the EA Kickoff home page

CLICK HERE for the schedules, results and standings for each age group

Chicago Mission Labor Day Showcase

Hosted by one of the premier youth hockey organizations in the United States, the Mission Labor Day Classic already got underway on Thursday with 16U and 18U games between CarShield from Missouri and the host Chicago Mission. CarShield won the 18U matchup, 5-2, with the hosts taking the 16U contest, 3-0. 

This year’s Chicago Mission Labor Day Showcase offers competition for 10U, 12U, 13O, 14U, 15O, 16U and 18U Tier 1 Boys teams. There are a total of 47 teams competing across the seven age groups, with clubs representing Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Missouri, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, California, Florida and South Dakota participating. The tournament features nearly 100 games between Thursday and Monday, with each team playing at least four times.

Tournament games will be played at Darien Sportsplex in Darien, Ill., and Fifth Third Arena in Chicago. Both rinks offer LiveBarn feeds.

Competing clubs, in addition to the Chicago Mission and CarShield, include the Chicago Reapers, Ohio Blue Jackets, Team Wisconsin, Sioux Falls Power, HoneyBaked, Madison Capitols, Team Illinois, Los Angeles Jr. Kings, Windy City Storm, New Jersey Colonials, Anaheim Jr. Ducks, Florida Alliance, St. Louis AAA Blues and Minuteman Flames. 

CLICK HERE for links to Chicago Mission Labor Day Showcase scores, schedules, standings and more.

Premier Ice Prospects Labor Day Girls Fest

The PIP Labor Day Girls Fest in Pittsburgh includes USA and Canada Girls teams competing in 14U/U15, 16U/U18 and 18U/U22 age groups with a five-game guarantee for all 66 competing teams. There are 20 teams in the 14U/U15 Division, 24 in the 16U/U18 Division and 22 in the 19U/U22 division.

Games are being held from Friday through Sunday at the Ice Castle Arena in Pittsburgh, UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township, Pa., Baierl Ice Complex in Warrendale, Pa., and RMU Island Sports Center in Pittsburgh. Each of those rinks offers a LiveBarn feed. Nearly 200 total games will be played.

Top USA programs such as the East Coast Wizards, Little Caesars, Northern Elite (Minn.), Connecticut Polar Bears, Assabet Valley, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, Minnesota Whitecaps, Boston Jr. Eagles, Philadelphia Jr. Flyers, Chicago Mission, Belle Tire, Mid-Fairfield Stars, Bishop Kearney Selects, HoneyBaked and Massachusetts Spitfires are sending teams. Top Canadian clubs such as the Nepean Wildcats, Stoney Creek Sabres, Ottawa Lady Senators, Oakville Hornets and Burlington Barracudas also are participating.

CLICK HERE for links to the Labor Day Girls Fest schedule, scores and standings.

North American Hockey Academy Labor Day Tournament

Perennial nationally ranked North American Hockey Academy is hosting its annual Labor Day Tournament at rinks just outside of Boston.

Games will be played at the Asiaf Arena in Brockton, Mass., Mark Bavis Arena in Rockland, Pilgrim Skating Arena in Hingham, Boston Sports Institute in Wellesley, Babson Skating Center in Wellesley, Lovell Rink in Rockland and William L. Chase Arena in Natick. Most of those rinks offer LiveBarn feeds. There will be 91 games Friday, 85 Saturday and 50 Sunday. Playoff rounds will take place Sunday. 

A total of 97 teams are competing in the 14U/U15, 16U/U18 and 19U/U22 divisions, including teams representing Canadian clubs such as the Kingston Wolves and Stanstead College. Top American participating clubs in addition to NAHA include Assabet Valley, the Lovell Lions, Valley Jr. Warriors, Minnesota Jr. Whitecaps, Massachusetts Spitfires, Boston Jr. Eagles, Bay State Breakers, Team Wisconsin, Arizona Kachinas, Washington Pride and Team Colorado.

CLICK HERE for NAHA Labor Day Tournament streaming information.

CLICK HERE for links to the NAHA Labor Day Tournament schedule, scores and standings.