Is my team eligible to participate in a Gene Harrington Tournament?
We have separate divisions for both boy and girl teams at all levels and ages so everyone is welcome to register for any of our events.
Is my team too strong or too weak for one of your events?
We host divisions for every classification, and at all age levels. So, whether your team is a house or an elite AAA we can find a spot for your team to compete. We go beyond the typical tournament by putting every team that registers through our screening process to ensure teams that are accepted can respectfully compete. See our Screening Process
What are the dates and tournament fees? How do I register my team?
On the tournament detail page there is a side navigation bar. At the top you will find the Register Now button. After clicking on Register Now you will be brough to the 3 registration steps. Click and complete each step and we will save you a spot. Make certain you complete all 3 steps in a timely manner.
Do we have to use the hotels listed on your website?
Gene Harrington Hockey Tournaments has secured room blocks for all out-of-town teams participating in one of our tournaments. As a condition of acceptance, all out-of-town teams must reserve rooms through Gene Harrington Hockey Tournaments by completing the online registration process. Teams whose home rink is greater than 50 miles from the tournament rinks, will be considered an out-of-town team, and will be required to comply with our hotel policies and procedure.
Can we call the hotel directly?
Teams are assigned to a hotel on a first come first serve basis so until you receive your tournament guide please do not contact the hotel directly. The tournament guides are issued 2-3 weeks prior to the event leaving you ample time to confirm or adjust your room requests. In the meantime, please contact the tournament staff.
Who do I make my payment payable to? Can it be made with foreign currency?
We only accept payments made with US funds which should be made payable to: North American Hockey, and mailed to 14 Rock Dove Lane, Orchard Park, NY 14127.
Are the Gene Harrington Tournaments sanctioned by USA Hockey?
Yes, all events are sanctioned by USA Hockey.
Do teams traveling in from Canada have to wear mouth guards?
No, all teams are expected to follow the same rules that apply to them in their perspective leagues. Click this link for more details. Tournament Rules
When should I register?
Since acceptance is handled on a first come first serve basis it is highly recommended that you register as soon as possible.
How long does it take to get across the US Canadian border?
Since the Rainbow Bridge is not typically used for commercial traffic and tourism diminishes by the end of September border crossing is relatively quick so you can expect minimal delays when crossing between the months of October through April.
Will we play a lot of the same teams from our league?
We attract teams from across the US and Canada so even our local teams get an out-of-town experience. Occasional we will receive registrations from teams who participate in the same league. Our screening process takes this into consideration and separates those teams especially if there is a significant difference in their level of play.
Can we request a later game time on Friday?
We try to accommodate scheduling request but cannot guarantee a late start since all first-round games must be completed by Saturday afternoon to make room for Quarter, Semi, and Championship games. Taking into account overtimes, and trophy ceremonies we allot between 80 to 120 minutes for second round games which consumes a significant amount of ice time but keeps the tournament running on time so it requires that we start the event Friday morning. Scheduling request for Sabres games or other evening events are welcomed, and typically accommodated.
Why do the Gene Harrington tournaments exist?
I lost my best friend in a car accident back in 1993 so every event is a celebration of my fathers life, and his love for the sport and the children that participate. Hockey has always played a big part in my life and the tournaments represent an opportunity to continue my fathers tradition, and keep me involve in a community of people that I truly enjoy, Hockey People.
