The 14th Annual Ice Masters Classic 3 on 3 Tournament will be played this coming weekend. This is a fast paced half ice game that is a real hit among players of all ages and spectators too. This is the 14th year for this event and is the biggest and longest running 3 on 3 tournament in Wisconsin. This year there are 78 teams from all over the state that will play 165 games on two sheets of ice. You will find a Mite, Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam, and Girls U14 brackets.
The game is similar to that of a half court basketball game and is played at a very fast pace. A game consists of three six-minute periods. When the teams change possession, the puck must be cleared outside the blue line with all players touching up prior to becoming involved in the offensive play. The goalies compete as individuals and see a lot of action. A record was set last year when a Pee Wee goalie faced 62 shots during one game. All teams are guaranteed 3 games but can play up to 7 games. Individual trophies are awarded to teams for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each bracket. There is also a loser’s bracket that they call the Thumper Bowl which also gets trophies. The first three goalies in each division are awarded trophies too for there individual performance. Last year nearly a third of the players went home with trophies.
Julie