Weekend Preview Aug. 22-25: The Action Ramps Up for Weekend No. 2
The action ramps up considerably for the second official weekend of the 2025-26 United States youth hockey season following an opening weekend that featured a smattering of tournaments and other events.
For the weekend of Aug. 22-24, our focus is on showcases and tournaments large and small in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.
For our second Weekend Preview, we are highlighting the Buffalo Jr. Sabres Early Bird Showcase in New York, Grand Rapids Kickoff Classic in Michigan, the first Eastern Junior Elite Prospects League season showcase in multiple Mid-Atlantic states and the BEAST Tournament Series Launch Challenge in Massachusetts.
Buffalo Jr. Sabres Early Bird Showcase
This annual event held at the LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo features USA Boys Tier 1 teams competing at the 14U and 15U age levels. The tournament includes 14 total teams, with 11 competing in the 15U Division, and more than 30 totals games.
CLICK HERE for the Early Bird 15U schedule
CLICK HERE to watch 15U games via webstream
CLICK HERE for the Early Bird 14U schedule
CLICK HERE to watch 14U games via webstream
This year’s Early Bird Showcase includes the host Buffalo Jr. Sabres and other established Tier 1 programs from around the country such as the Carolina Jr. Hurricanes, the Colorado Thunderbids, Florida Alliance, the New Jersey Colonials, PAL Jr. Islanders, the Rochester Americans, the Syracuse Nationals and Victory Honda. In the 14U Division, it appears as though most of the Guelph Gryphons U15 team is competing as Elite Hockey Development since the Canadian season doesn’t officially start until next month.
Games began early Friday, Aug. 22, and run through Sunday afternoon, Aug. 25. It isn’t clear if there is any type of playoff format for this event.
Another annual event, this tournament features Tier 1 Boys teams competing at the 15O, 16U and 18U levels as well as Tier 1 and Tier 2 teams playing in 16U and 18U split-season divisions in Michigan.
The Kickoff Classic includes well-known Michigan Tier 1 programs such as Compuware, Fox Motors, Michigan Hockey Advancement, Victory Honda and Belle Tire. They are being joined by the Chicago Phantoms, Team Minnesota and the Pittsburgh Vengeance.
No schedule has been posted.
Kickoff Classic 15O Participating Teams
Compuware, Fox Motors, Michigan Hockey Advancement, Victory Honda
Kickoff Classic 16U Participating Teams
Chicago Phantoms, Compuware, Fox Motors, Michigan Hockey Advancement, Team Minnesota
Kickoff Classic 18U Participating Teams
Belle Tire, Fox Motors, Michigan Hockey Advancement, Pittsburgh Vengeance, Team Minnesota
Eastern Junior Elite Prospects League August Showcase
The EJEPL is an in-season Tier 2 league offering a competitive 16-game schedule that includes two showcase events for 9U through 14U teams and a 20-game schedule with three showcases for the 15O-18U age levels.
There are teams from 12 different states in the EJEPL, allowing players the opportunity to play teams they would otherwise might never see as all league members attend the showcases. It also provides scheduling flexibility to meet each organization’s needs. The EJEPL season begins in late August and culminates with playoffs in early February.
This year’s EJEPL August Showcase features 400-plus games being played at more than a dozen rinks in New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Boys teams at the 10U, 12U, 14U, 15O, 16U and 18U levels are participating. There are 123 games Friday, Aug. 22, running from 9 a.m. until 9:25 p.m. ET. Saturday’s schedule features 199 contests running from 7 a.m. until 9:10 p.m., and the showcase culminates with 101 more games Sunday, Aug. 24, between 7 a.m. and 4:15 p.m.
Most EJEPL August Showcase games should be available for live and on-demand viewing via LiveBarn.
CLICK HERE for the complete EJEPL August Showcase schedule, game results and stats.
BEAST Tournament Series Launch Challenge
The BEAST Tournament Series is a Northeast-based in-season showcase league that annually includes some of the top full- and split-season Boys Tier 1 programs in the United States. It includes competition at the 13U, 14U, 15O, 16U and 18U age levels.
Now in its eighth season, the BEAST has seen many of its member organizations send teams to compete at USA Hockey National Championships and provided countless players with the exposure and competitive level necessary for them to advance to play for NCAA hockey programs. More than 500 players with BEAST ties have made NCAA commitments, with a large percentage of them advancing to the Division I level.
This year’s season-opening BEAST Launch Challenge features more than 80 teams competing in 54 games Aug. 24-25. Full and split-season teams in the 15O, 16U and 18U age groups are participating at five Massachusetts rinks located south of Boston.
Many nationally recognized programs such as the Long Island Gulls, Boston Jr. Eagles, Neponset Valley River Rats, Boston Jr. Terriers, Northern Connecticut Nor’Easter, Mid-Fairfield Rangers, Holy Name Bears, Yale Jr. Bulldogs, Cape Cod Whalers and Minuteman Flames have teams participating in this year’s Launch Challenge.
Most BEAST Launch Challenge games should be available for live and on-demand viewing via LiveBarn.
CLICK HERE for the complete BEAST Launch Challenge schedule, results and stats.
