Just as the weather starts to turn sun into rain, the hockey season is turning into peak tournament time.

Many of the tournaments happening over the coming months are Silver Stick. Over the years, the International Silver Stick tournaments have evolved from regional competition to 47 tournaments across North America from boys and girls of all ages. Teams from across the OMHA continue to participate in the storied tournament as well as welcome teams into their city when hosting.

Tournaments can be fun for the whole family. Getting everyone involved just adds to the overall experience. There are so many reasons why we love tournaments and here are just a few:

Some of the lasting memories from tournaments don’t even happen on the ice. From swimming in the hotel pool to sitting at the largest table in the restaurant, spending time with all of your teammates off the ice is where true team bonding happens. From house league to rep, from Novice to Midget, there are tournaments happening out there for everyone. Give your team what could be a once in a lifetime experience.

Running a tournament can become a yearly tradition for some associations. Often called a ‘Classic’ or ‘Annual’ tournament, chances are the same teams like to attend each season. This could be the year where it’s your team’s turn to carry on the legacy of representing your town and participating. Maybe your older brother participated a few years ago. Now it's your time to shine.

Tournaments often bring upon new opponents that you wouldn’t normally face during regular season play. This is a great way to see how your team stacks up against other groups your age while playing in a new town. Take advantage of your time away from home – study the schedule and look into visiting local attractions that make each place unique.

Tournaments offer a lot of action in a short amount of time. It can often involve a team playing two games in one day. Make sure that you are eating properly so that you can perform at your best on the ice. Book off some time to finish weekend homework and to rest and relax before the next big game. It’s a busy weekend but there’s still time to get everything done.