Hibernation’s Over. Hockey’s On.
Welcome to the inaugural Out of Hibernation Challenge—where the holiday break ends and the season comes back to life. Taking place January 2–4, 2027, this New Year’s weekend event is centered at BIGGBY Coffee Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, with additional games at BIGGBY Coffee Ice Cube Brighton, bringing together teams from across the Great Lakes region and beyond for a high-energy return to competition. With a four-game minimum over three days, this tournament is designed to shake off the rust, reset the pace, and get teams dialed in for the second half of the Fall/Winter season.
Set in the heart of Michigan, teams and families can enjoy everything the Ann Arbor and Brighton areas have to offer—from vibrant downtown restaurants and shopping to outdoor winter activities and local attractions. With a unique “out of hibernation” theme, strong competition, and a destination feel, this is the perfect way to transition out of the holidays and back into meaningful hockey. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the first chapter of what’s set to become a Great Lakes winter tradition.
Featuring:
Multiple Divisions/Levels
Competitive Format
USA Hockey Sanctioned
Certified Referees
Championship Awards
Online Stats & Standings via Defender GAME CENTER powered by Time To Score
Live Streaming via Black Bear TV
Round Robin with Playoffs (Minimum of 4 games). Teams may play one or more
round robin games DAY 1, one or more round robin games on DAY 2, with
consolation/semi-finals and/or championship games on the final day. NOTE: Semi-Final
rounds and/or consolation games are not guaranteed.
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 5:00 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Disclaimer: We have noticed an increase in teams that have withdrawn from events at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.
