A parent's guide to girls hockey tournament weekends

How girls hockey tournaments work, how round robins and playoff games are decided, and tips for a smooth tournament weekend.

How a tournament works

Most girls hockey tournaments run Friday to Sunday. Teams are placed in divisions by age and level, and often split into pools. Each team plays a set number of round-robin games, usually three or four. The top teams then play semi-finals and a final, often on Sunday.

Some tournaments add consolation or bronze medal games, so most teams play at least one extra game after the round robin.

How the standings are decided

Round-robin standings use points, usually 2 for a win and 1 for a tie. When teams finish level on points, tie-breakers decide who moves on. Common ones are head-to-head result, goal differential, fewest goals allowed and penalty minutes. Every tournament publishes its own rules, so check them if your team is on the bubble.

Many tournaments cap the goal differential counted per game, so running up the score doesn't help.

Tips for the weekend

• Check the schedule the night before and again in the morning. Game times and rinks can change.
• Plan to arrive 45 to 60 minutes before game time. Teams usually want players dressed well before warm-up.
• Note which rink and which ice pad each game is on. Many arenas have several.
• Pack water, snacks, a spare set of laces and tape, and layers for cold arenas.
• Leave time between games for meals and rest, especially on busy Saturdays.
• Book hotels early for out-of-town tournaments. Teams often have a block of rooms.

Live scores

Girls Hockey Hub lists every OWHA-sanctioned girls tournament in Ontario on our tournaments page. For many, we show live scores, standings and playoff brackets as games finish, all on your phone, with no app needed.