The region's premier holiday ice hockey tournament for AA, A (Major and Minor), and B level teams at the 8U, 10U, 12U, and 14U age classifications.  The tournament draws a maximum of 100 of the most talented teams from Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, New York and beyond.

ROSTERS:
Age levels are based on 2025-2026 USA Hockey age levels. Teams must play with their regular league roster and may NOT add players to their roster for the tournament. House all-star teams at the Squirt, Pee Wee, and Bantam levels are allowed if formed exclusively from an in-house program. Any exceptions to this rule must be approved by the tournament director, Blaine Buterbaugh via email  buterbaugh@rmu.edu.

Mite teams do not have to be the regularly rostered team from the season and may consist of players from multiple teams throughout an organization. Mite teams may also be formed from players of different organizations; however, such mixed organization teams may not be permitted into the tournament based on overall team strength. Mite-aged players who are rostered on a full ice Squirt team are not permitted in the Nutcracker, EXCEPT girls who were born in 2017 and are playing on a girls-only Squirt team.

FORMAT OF DIVISIONS:
Every effort will be made to form competitive divisions.  Divisional determination will be based upon, but not limited to, the team’s current playing level, league ranking, myhockeyrankings, and conversations with registered teams.
 

TOURNAMENT FORMAT
The NUTCRACKER will use a 5-point system for round-robin games.
-2 points for winning the game, (tied games result in 1 point per team)
-1 point per period won, (tied periods result in 0.5 point per team)

All levels have a four-game guarantee with five games possible.  

Mite games are (3) 17-minute running time periods.

Squirt and above feature (3) 12-minute stop-time periods.


The winning teams receive the Nutcracker Cup engraved with all players' and coaches' names.  Players on the championship team and the runner-up team will also receive individual awards.

An EMT is present in the building for each game of the tournament.
Each player receives a FREE copy of the tournament souvenir program.

THIS IS NOT A "STAY TO PLAY" TOURNAMENT!!

Final team schedules will be released BY  Friday, December 19, 2025...if not sooner!

Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam, & Middle School Divisions
REGISTER NOW - 10U, 12U, 14U & MIDDLE SCHOOL
$1445 if registered before 11:59 PM 10/1/25
$1595 if registered 10/2/25 later.

REGISTER NOW - 8U
$895 if registered before 11:59 PM 10/1/25
$955 if registered 10/2/25 later.

A full will be provided if:

1.  The Head Coach / Team Manager requests to withdraw from the tournament by email on or before November 26, 2025.

2.  After December 1 it is determined that the tournament will not host a division for your team (skill level).

* To submit a withdraw request please email:
Blaine Buterbaugh - buterbaugh@rmu.edu

**No refunds will be provided to teams that request to withdraw from the tournament after schedules are released.

Out-of-Town teams are encouraged to contact one of our convenient hotel partners:

Sheraton Inn Pittsburgh Airport (Moon)
Sonja Matokovich, 412-375-5247

Hampton Inn Pittsburgh Airport (Moon)
Jackie Denny, 412-264-0020 x2

Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Airport (Moon)
Hunter Todd, 724-899-6047

Referees and Scorekeepers wanted!!