US Pond Hockey Championships

What US Pond Hockey Championships does

The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships (USPHC) is a privately organized annual outdoor hockey tournament held on Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The event is positioned around authentic pond hockey — played on natural outdoor ice without boards or glass — and serves recreational and competitive hockey players who register as teams across ability-based divisions. The 2027 edition is scheduled for January 29-31, 2027, with pre-registration opening September 1 and general registration October 1.

The company's operating stack is lean: participant registration, account management, and event coordination are delivered through SportsEngine's Sports Relationship Management (SRM) platform, which the event does not own but uses as its technology backbone. There are no proprietary software products, no mobile applications, and no disclosed technology team. The core "product" is the tournament itself, a single recurring event.

Commercially, USPHC operates a two-stream revenue model. The primary stream is registration fees charged to individual players and teams entering the tournament. The secondary stream is corporate sponsorship, organized into a multi-tiered structure including Platinum (Leinenkugel's, Tria), Silver (10+ equipment, apparel, and lifestyle brands), Nokomis Partners (local retail, media, and nonprofit), Mission Support (adaptive and community hockey programs), and Event Operations Partners (rink, catering, equipment, and logistics vendors). The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships is the sole product offering, and the entity is privately held with no disclosed ownership structure, funding history, or headcount.

Name

US Pond Hockey Championships

Legal name

U.S. Pond Hockey Championships

Website

https://uspondhockey.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships is a privately organized annual outdoor pond hockey tournament held at Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis, serving recreational and competitive hockey players through ability-based team registrations and tiered corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recreational Hockey Tournament

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Amateur & Grassroots Tournament Organizers (MPAKADAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ice Hockey Leagues (MPAKAAAE)

Keywords

• Pond hockey tournament
• Outdoor hockey championship
• Recreational hockey event
• Amateur hockey tournament
• Winter sports event

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Event Registration Fees: The primary revenue stream comes from player/team registration fees for the annual championship tournament. The event divides participants into ability-based divisions, generating revenue through individual and team registrations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

The US Pond Hockey Championships organizes and operates an annual outdoor recreational hockey tournament held at Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Players and teams register by ability level across multiple divisions, with pre-registration opening 9/1 and general registration opening 10/1 for the upcoming January event. The tournament delivers authentic pond hockey on natural outdoor ice without boards or glass, supported by a multi-tier corporate sponsorship program.

Product overview

The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships is a single-event recreational hockey tournament. The company organizes and manages the annual championship event, which takes place on Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis. Teams register by ability level across multiple divisions. The event is the primary product offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• U.S. Pond Hockey Championships Tournament An annual outdoor recreational hockey tournament held at Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis, Minnesota, featuring multiple ability-based divisions for amateur and competitive hockey players. The event is played on natural outdoor ice without boards or glass, with the 2027 edition scheduled for January 29-31, 2027. Players and teams register directly through the SportsEngine-powered website at uspondhockey.com.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Leinenkugel'scoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor for the 2026 U.S. Pond Hockey Championships. Leinenkugel's is a beer brand providing sponsorship support for the event.
• TriacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor for the 2026 U.S. Pond Hockey Championships. Tria is an orthopedic and sports medicine brand providing sponsorship.
• Men's League SweatersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver sponsor providing hockey-related merchandise support for the event.
• Howie's Hockey TapeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver sponsor providing hockey tape and equipment support for the tournament.
• Sparx HockeyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver sponsor providing hockey sharpening and equipment services for the event.
• CellyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver sponsor - hockey apparel brand supporting the championships.
• MyFlexPowerminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver sponsor providing energy/power solutions for the event.
• Turtlebox AudiominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver sponsor - portable speaker brand providing audio support for the event.
• Final Pond Hockey CominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver sponsor - pond hockey equipment and merchandise brand.
• NiceRinkminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver sponsor providing rink equipment and supplies for the event.
• New Tradition CominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver sponsor providing hockey lifestyle merchandise.
• RB Light the LampminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver sponsor - hockey-themed merchandise and apparel brand.
• Misfit CoffeeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Nokomis Partner providing coffee and beverage services for participants and spectators.
• Circle K / Holiday StationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Nokomis Partner - convenience store chain providing retail and convenience services for the event.
• KSTP 5minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Nokomis Partner - local TV station providing media coverage and promotion of the event.
• Save Pond HockeyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Nokomis Partner - nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving pond hockey traditions and outdoor ice rinks.
• ImpactSUSminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Nokomis Partner - sustainability-focused organization supporting the event.
• Minneapolis Park BoardminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Mission Support partner - municipal organization providing park facilities and support for Lake Nokomis venue.
• Folds of HonorminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Mission Support partner - nonprofit providing scholarships to families of fallen and disabled service members.
• Hendrickson FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Mission Support partner - foundation supporting adaptive sports programs.
• MN Wild Blind HockeyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Mission Support partner - adaptive hockey program for visually impaired players.
• Minnesota Wild Sled HockeyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Mission Support partner - sled hockey program for players with physical disabilities.
• MN Wild Special HockeyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Mission Support partner - special hockey program for players with developmental disabilities.
• MN WarriorsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Mission Support partner - adaptive hockey program for military veterans.
• Lano EquipmentminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Event Operations Partner providing equipment support for tournament operations.
• UNITSminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Event Operations Partner providing storage and portable facility solutions.
• Apres PartyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Event Operations Partner providing post-game celebration and party services.
• E5 EnergyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Event Operations Partner providing energy solutions for the venue.
• Green Mill CateringminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Event Operations Partner providing food and catering services.
• Nokomis LifeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Event Operations Partner - local media/lifestyle platform for the Nokomis community.
• T-Rex RinksminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Event Operations Partner providing rink construction and maintenance equipment.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• World Pond Hockey Championship: Annual pond hockey tournament held on Roulston Lake in Plaster Rock, New Brunswick, Canada. Most direct analog to USPHC — outdoor natural-ice pond hockey championship with team-based registration and ability divisions.
• Labatt Blue Pond Hockey Tournament: Multi-division pond hockey tournament traditionally held in Minneapolis area with beer-brand sponsorship (Labatt Blue). Closest direct peer in geography and format to USPHC.
• New England Pond Hockey Classic: Regional pond hockey tournament held on Meredith Bay, Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire. Comparable U.S.-based amateur pond hockey event with team registrations and skill-based divisions.
• Big Sky Pond Hockey Classic: Outdoor pond hockey tournament held in Big Sky, Montana. Directly comparable in format — natural-ice amateur pond hockey championship serving regional recreational and competitive players.

Broad incumbents

• NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship: Governing tournament structure for collegiate ice hockey in the U.S. Although rink-based and elite-level, it is a comparable hockey tournament organizer and sets the template for sponsor activation in hockey events.
• USA Hockey: National governing body for amateur hockey in the U.S. Oversees tournament structures, divisions, and sanctioning across amateur hockey — relevant comparator for organizer operations and participant pipeline.
• NHL Heritage Classic: NHL outdoor regular-season games played in heritage/retro settings. Not a direct competitor for participation revenue but a broader incumbent in the outdoor hockey events category that shapes sponsor demand and audience expectations.
• NHL Winter Classic: Premier annual NHL outdoor game event. Operates in adjacent outdoor-hockey-events space and competes for the same sponsor dollars (beer, sports medicine) and media attention that USPHC relies on.

Others

• Minnesota Wild: NHL franchise based in Saint Paul/Minneapolis. Operates multiple affiliated adaptive hockey programs (Blind, Sled, Special Hockey) that overlap with USPHC's mission-support partners and share the Minnesota hockey community.
• SportsEngine: Youth and amateur sports technology platform powering USPHC's registration and event management. Enabling vendor and infrastructure peer rather than a competitor; relevant for assessing platform risk and scale benchmarks.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uspondhockey
• Facebookfacebook.com/USPondHockey
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/us-pond-hockey-championships

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about US Pond Hockey Championships