Summer is over. Time to lace up. Welcome to the Rust Buster Kickoff—Defender’s official start to the 2026–27 Fall/Winter season. Hosted across the Jersey Shore region at Igloo Ice Rink, Northeast Skate Zone, and Grundy Ice Arena, August 15 & 16, 2026, this inaugural 2-day event brings together 10U–14U teams for a high-energy, early-season showdown. Designed as the perfect tune-up, teams can shake off the rust with a guaranteed three-game minimum while competing in a fast-paced, professionally run environment. Off the ice, families can enjoy everything the greater Jersey Shore and Philadelphia area has to offer—from dining and shopping to local attractions—making it more than just a tournament, but a full weekend experience. Start your season the right way and be part of the event that sets the tone for everything ahead.
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 3 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Disclaimer: We have noticed an increase in teams that have withdrawn from events at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.
