A celebration of Wisconsin Hockey will take place on the weekend of January 9, 2026, at the River Valley Hockey Association outdoor rink in St. Croix Falls. In all thirteen outdoor games, from squirts through ACHA college, will take place throughout the weekend. The event, the first of its kind in Wisconsin, is being sponsored by Brown & Brown Insurance, City of St. Croix Falls and the River Valley Hockey Association. The net revenue proceeds that are generated will be allocated to various youth hockey associations and organizations throughout Wisconsin.

Brian Seubert is the founder/architect of this idea. Chase Hoople, General Manager of the Valley Sports Academy in Eau Claire and Phillip Swiler, Director of Community Relations are the event organizers. “Hockey day Wisconsin was founded by the Sigh Group (parent company to Valley Sports Academy) and it has been a team effort to make this event possible,” said Hoople. “The purpose of Hockey Day Wisconsin is to bring more awareness to the game of hockey in Wisconsin and help support associations/organizations in need. This outdoor spectacle will create memories and experiences for all who are involved from players to spectators to volunteers.” 

With the NHL, and their outdoor games and many NCAA colleges rivalries now playing outdoor games, it seems fitting to see it move into high school and youth hockey. Twenty different teams and youth associations will be represented at the event. “Being our first year there is going to be a lot of trial and error, a lot of learning, probably take a couple Mike Tysons to the cheek, but we'll learn and grow from there,” joked Hoople.

The idea of Hockey Day Wisconsin originally started back in 2024, but the organizers ran into unexpected roadblocks. “When we tried to host the first Hockey Day Wisconsin, we ran into increased expenditures to have an outdoor rink with all the bells and whistles we needed,” Hoople explained. “That is when we discovered the River Valley Hockey Association, who has been a crucial part of building Hockey Day Wisconsin.”

There will be hockey games going on non-stop throughout the three days of the event. Food vendors on site include the River Valley Hockey Association concession stand, Dalles House Restaurant, Bizzy Bean Coffee and Brickfire Pizza. As a fund-raising event, there will be a gate fee to enter the event. Gates fees are: Friday ($15), Saturday ($20), Sunday ($5). Parking is $5 a day throughout the weekend. Reduced pre-sale tickets are available at:  www.hockeydaywi.com/event-list

The marquee games of the weekend will kick-off with the Amery Warriors and the West Salem Panthers on Friday night at 7:00pm. On Saturday the surging Western Wisconsin Stars face-off with the Anoka Tornadoes at 2:00pm, followed by the UW-Eau Claire Men vs UM-Duluth in an ACHA battle at 4:15pm and the nightcap will feature the Rice Lake Warriors and the Northwest Iceman in a WIAA boy’s contest.  

Like any major event, getting the first one off the ground is step one and January 9th that will happen. Weather is always a factor when you plan an outdoor event like this. The extended forecast predicts favorable temperatures, but the threat of some snow. So, what happens if it snows? “If it snows, we play,” Said Hoople. “Will just need to go NHL style with shoveling every few minutes and play it out, that is part of the fun.”

And if shoveling snow or helping out in a variety of ways interests you, there are volunteer opportunities available here: https://schedule.planhero.com/events/8f7e645ef/hockey-day-wi-2025-event-sign-up

The future plan for the event will rotate the site around the state. “We will be hosting 2026 and 2027 at RVHA with hopes to move to a new location in 2028,” Hoople said. “Long term Hockey Day Wisconsin will be held in a new city around Wisconsin every year to create a larger impact and drive tourism in those cities.”

Hayward, with their fantastic new outdoor rink, immediately comes to my mind!

Current Sponsors who make this event possible: Brown and Brown, Wisconsota Painting, Polaris-Osceola, WESTconsin Credit Union, Saint Croix Health, Bizzy Bean Coffee, Dalles House Restaurant, Royal Credit Union, Brickfire Pizza, Brandon Nall Photography, St. Croix Hotel and Suites and St. Croix Tourism.  

You can find the Wisconsin Hockey Day website here: https://www.rivervalleyhockey.com/events/hockey-day-wisconsin/127257