Snoopy's Senior World Hockey Tournament
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Snoopy's Senior World Hockey Tournament (commonly known as the "Snoopy Tournament") is a major amateur ice hockey tournament held every summer at Redwood Empire Ice Arena in Santa Rosa, California. Owner of the Arena, Charles M. Schulz (Peanuts creator), started the tournament in the mid-1970's. Over the years, it has grown in popularity.
The entire tournament consists of 64 teams split up into many different divisions. The teams are divided up by age group: 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, and 75. A player is able to play in a younger division but not an older one. For example, a 50 year old forward can play in either the 40, 45 or 50 year old division, but he is not eligible to play in the 55 or higher. Goaltenders are the only exception to this rule.
The teams in each division play a round-robin series, playing each other only once.
Charles M. Schulz, nicknamed "Sparky", played in the tournament every year up until his death. He was a member of the legendary Diamond Icers team that is still currently in the 75 year old division. His son Monte Schulz is also playing in the tournament.
Teams come from all over the world to play: United States, Canada, parts of Europe, and even Japan.
The Snoopy Tournament has also attracted the attention of some retired pro National Hockey League players as well as some celebrities. Some of the former NHLers who have played in the tournament are Red Berenson, Ernie Hicke, Terry Harper, and Mel Bridgman. And a notable celebrity who has participated in the tournament is David E. Kelley (creator of television shows The Practice and Ally McBeal).
The 31st Annual Snoopy Tournament for summer of 2007 is scheduled to take place July 15th through July 22nd.
