Consider this your first cup of hockey for the new year. Welcome to the inaugural Michigan BIGGBY® CUP: Defender Hockey Tournament's completely reimagined New Year's hockey weekend, designed to become one of the Midwest's premier youth hockey experiences. Taking place January 2–3, 2027, this New Year’s weekend event is centered at BIGGBY® COFFEE Ice Cube Ann Arbor and Brighton, MI, bringing together teams from across the Great Lakes region for a high-energy return to competition after winter break.
BIGGBY® CUP features two distinct championship events designed for different stages of youth hockey development—giving every team a unique, competitive, and memorable tournament experience while setting a new standard for New Year's hockey in the Midwest. For our 7U and 8U players, the Big Ice Challenge introduces young players to full-ice tournament hockey, giving them the opportunity to experience full-ice hockey in a true tournament atmosphere and championship environment. For our 9U-12U teams, the Winter Face-Off is designed for A and AA birth-year teams looking for competitive games against organizations they don't normally face, with Open birth-year divisions providing opportunities to compete against teams from outside their normal league schedule.
More than just another tournament, this destination event combines strong competition with an unforgettable family getaway in the heart of Michigan, where teams can enjoy the vibrant downtowns of Ann Arbor and Brighton, outstanding restaurants, shopping, and seasonal attractions. Powered by BIGGBY® COFFEE, the weekend is designed to wake up the last half of the season, bringing teams back to the ice for the perfect blend of competitive hockey, unforgettable experiences, and a fresh start to the winter hockey calendar. We are looking forward to a premium event experience that reintroduces the Defender brand and establishes a new annual Great Lakes tradition. Be part of the inaugural chapter of what promises to become one of Michigan's signature winter hockey weekends!
Featuring:
- Premier Tournament Venue featuring two NHL-sized rinks and one Olympic-sized rink, plus on-site amenities including a pro shop, cafe, fitness center & more!
- Multiple Divisions & Skill Levels for balanced, competitive play
- Guaranteed Competitive Schedule with a proven tournament format designed to maximize meaningful games
- BIGGBY® Cup Championship Sunday: A first-class championship experience, with BIGGBY® Cup individual and team awards for division winners and finalists
- Certified Referees providing a professionally officiated tournament
- Live Stats, Scores & Standings through Defender GAME CENTER powered by Time To Score
- Live Streaming on Black Bear TV so family and friends can watch from anywhere
Tournament Format
- 4-Game Guarantee
- Two day event - every team competes on Sunday for a championship within its bracket
- Saturday - Two Pool Play Games
- Sunday - Teams are seeded into championship brackets based on Saturday results
Divisional allocation is based on USA Hockey roster/age group classification for the upcoming season. However, the tournament operations staff may adjust placements to fit individual team competitiveness on a case-by-case basis.
Tournament game schedule will be released 7-10 days prior to the event start date.
Teams must arrive and be available in the local area by the day before the tournament begins and be prepared to play at 7:00 AM local time on the first day of the tournament. Departure should be scheduled on or after the final tournament day, with final games expected to finish by roughly 6:00 PM local time.
Disclaimer: We have noticed an increase in teams that have withdrawn from events at the last minute causing us to have to re-work the schedule. Please DO NOT make any plans that cannot be refunded based on the schedule you receive.
