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Northeast Mini-Tournament
1 Dec 1994 - Albany, New York, hosted by Charles Carpenter
2 Dec 1995 - Albany, New York, hosted by Charles Carpenter
3 Dec 1996 - Albany, New York, hosted by Charles Carpenter
4 Dec 1997 - Albany, New York, hosted by Charles Carpenter
5 Dec 1998 - Burlington, Vermont, hosted by Jeff Blittersdorf
6 Dec 1999 - Albany, New York, hosted by Charles Carpenter
7 Dec 2000 - Lake Placid, New York, hosted by Charles Carpenter
8 Oct 2001 - Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, hosted by Tony Llabres
9 Dec 2002 - Albany, New York, hosted by Charles Carpenter
10 Dec 2003 - Albany, New York, hosted by Charles Carpenter
11 Dec 2004 - Ottowa, Ontario, hosted by Alain Michaud
12 Dec 2011 - Lake Placid, New York, hosted by Bradford Carpenter
October Fall Classic
1 1999 - Ft. Lauderdale, hosted by Tony Llabres
2 2000 - Ft. Lauderdale, hosted by Tony Llabres
3 2001 - Dallas, Texas hosted by Andy McGowan
4 2002 - Austin, Texas hosted by Andy McGowan
5 2003 - Ft. Collins, Colorado hosted by Mark Howell
6 2004 - Lake Tahoe, California hosted by Andy McGowan
7 2005 - Vail, Colorado hosted by Mark Howell
8 2006 - Banff, Alberta hosted by Steve Engram
9 2007 - Fort Worth, Texas hosted by Andy McGowan
10 2008 - Seattle, Washington hosted by Mike and Kim Guth, Chris Schenk
11 2009 - Albuquerque, New Mexico hosted by Tim Morelock
12 2010 - Vail, Colorado hosted by Mark Howell
13 2011 - Snowbird, Utah hosted by Mark Howell
14 2012 - Banff, Alberta will be hosted by Steve Engram
Year-by-Year Recap
UP NEXT: 2012 Banff, Alberta
Hosted by: Steve Engram * Hotel: Banff Aspen Lodge * Rink: The Fenlands * Teams: TBA
Wed Oct 3 - Fri Oct 5
2011 Lake Placid, New York
Hosted by: Bradford Carpenter
2011 Snowbird, Utah
Hosted by: Mark Howell * Hotel: Cliff Lodge & Spa * Rink: Cottonwood Heights Rec Center * Teams: 4
2010 Vail, Colorado
Hosted by: Mark Howell * Hotel: Vail International Condominiums * Rink: Dobson Ice Arena * Teams: 4
The ATC Hockey 12th Annual Fall Classic was held in Vail, Colorado on October 5-7, 2010. Longtime grandfathered player Mark Howell of Greely, Colorado hosted 62 players/4 teams plus another large turnout of spouses and friends in the beautiful Vail Village filled with hockey, mountains, and great ski-resort nightlife.
The week started out on Monday with representatives from Texas, Florida, and Vancouver meeting at the Buffalo Restaurant & Bar in Idaho Springs where beer and buffalo were consumed. The rest of the afternoon was spent stocking the condos with food and drink, hot tub action, and spirited conversation. A "mandatory" meeting for the many that arrived on Monday was held later that night at Garfinkles, THE local neighborhood bar and grill in Lionshead.
The price was paid the next morning (or afternoon) as the previous night and the Vail altitude had an adverse affect on those attending the now traditional Tuesday warm-up game. More trips to the grocery/liquor store, the Tuesday team draft by the goalies, hot tub, drinks, and snacks closed out the days events. By now, all attendees were in town and the opening party at Garfinkles (yes, again) was a great success. Mark Howell officially welcomed everyone and the goalies introduced their teams.
Wednesday included altitude-affected hockey, chasing young Jonah Thompson between periods, baseball playoffs intensely watched by the Minnesota and Texas groups, and beer bingo at the Red Lion.
On Thursday, the tournament wrapped up with the final two "league" games and the highly anticipated and most popular All-Star games. The closing events that night at Garfinkles (one last time) included thanks to Mark, an update on FTW 2011, and the announcement of the next Fall Classic destination and host; Snowbird, Utah by Mark Howell!
It was beautiful, clear, and dry all week...great weather for walking around in Lionshead and Vail Village as well as hanging by the hot tub and heated pool drinking and eating after the daily games. Those that stayed around on Friday and Saturday enjoyed leisurely walking, shopping, and dining in and around Vail Village accompanied by a beautiful snowfall.
2009 Albuquerque, New Mexico
Hosted by: Tim Morelock * Hotel: Marriot Pyramid * Rink: Outpost Ice Arena * Teams: 4
The ATC Hockey 11th Annual Fall Classic was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico on October 6-8, 2009. Tim Morelock of Albuquerque Center hosted 64 players/4 teams plus a large turnout of athletic supporters at the Marriott Pyramid in a week filled with hockey, mountains, and hot air balloons.
We played hockey at the two sheet Outpost Ice Arena, which sported a small scale southwestern village behind the benches on one rink plus their unique CooLLoop, the “world's first (and only) twin rinks linked by two skate-able smaller ice rinks…a full one-fifth of a mile indoors.” The teams were drafted by the goalies and were the most even we’ve had yet as all games were close. We finished off the hockey with All-Star games where the A/B players played against each other while the C/D players battled it out on the other rink.
We had an opening night party at the hotel which featured a Mexican buffet. The teams were announced and while we drank and ate, we raised over $700 for Team New Mexico’s U19 girls hockey program. We also had bid presentations to hold next year’s tourney in Indianapolis, Vail, and Valencia, CA. Vail won so back to the mountains we go!
Besides the many brew pubs, the highlight of the week was on Thursday night as 70 of us went to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Balloon Glow. The weather was perfect and we had tables outside at the Gondola Club where our tickets included all the food and drink we could stand.
Some of us stayed until Saturday and rode the tram to the top of Sandia Peak on Friday night to watch the sunset and have dinner at the High Finance restaurant. Highlights included "mangitis" of the lower back, a "borrowed" golf cart, bald men in a girls salon, and several invitations to leave. No serious injuries and as usual, a great time was had by all!
2008 Seattle, Washington
Hosted by: Mike and Kim Guth, Chris Schenk * Hotel: Best Western Plaza by the Green * Rink: Kent Valley Ice Centre * Teams: 4
The ATC Hockey 10th Annual Fall Classic was held in Kent, Washington on October 7-9, 2008.
Eighty players and fans made the trek to the great northwest for the soon to be named "ATC Fall Classic". The field of 60 players was made up primarily of returning players with a few locals to fill in the remaining rosters spots.
The opening event was held at our favorite after-hockey haunt, The Meeker Street Bar and Grill. Brett and crew did an awesome job of keeping everyone fed and "watered" while the goalies divvied up the players in the ever so scientific draft. Once the goalies arrived, the party was in full swing and the team announcements were made. The hotel was a very short walk away, so many stayed late into the evening then stumbled safely back to bed.
Games were played Kent Valley Ice, which is less than a mile from the hotel. Only one sheet available, so back to back games for some and time to sit and watch for others. The snack bar over the ice and the drink tickets provided by the tournament kept fans and waiting players warm and happy.
Wednesday night was a chance for those that wanted to explore the city to tackle it on their own. Many made their way across town to the Kent Station area to sample several of the restaurants. We managed to take over the bar area of the Ram Brewery where Team Asswipé kicked some butt at the trivia challenge.
Back at the hotel, the "hospitality suite" was open and the free beers were flowin'.
After the games were complete on Thursday, a few hearty soles took advantage a the rare Seattle October sunshine and played a round of golf at Riverbend Golf Course, which was conveniently located directly behind our hotel.
The final dinner on Thursday night was held, again just a short walk from the hotel, at the Fire Creek Grill. Great service, a great bar, pretty good food. A great time was had by all. Karaoke in the bar until late into the night, then stumble back to the hospitality suite to finish off the free beer. Hosts and guests alike had a great time.
We are ready and willing to host the Classic again...just say the word! ~ Kim & Mike
2007 Ft. Worth, Texas
Hosted by: Andy McGowan * Hotel: Marriot Blackstone * Rink: NYTEX Sports Centre * Teams: 4
Over 80 people gathered in Ft. Worth, Texas on Oct. 3/4, 2007 to enjoy the beautiful Texas spring weather, play hockey and hang out in Cowtown. The hockey was great but the party was better.
Several guys came in early for a golf outing hosted by Joey Howze of Howze Plumbing, the "official plumber of ATC Hockey South," while others had beer and breakfast at McGowan's pool. Tue night we officially opened the tournament with a beer and food fest at the Pour House in Sundance Square in downtown Ft. Worth, followed by the player team assignments, and finishing with a team Karaoke contest that had to be seen and heard to be believed! 60 players and 4 goalies split up to form 4 teams and play at the newly re-opened 2-sheet NYTEX Sports Centre. Also on Tue and Wed we had keg beer at the hotel's outdoor heated pool compliments of our own local Rahr & Sons Brewery.
Wed night we had a pub crawl that started with dinner at Billy Miners Saloon and ended with hotel security shutting the hard-core partiers down. Thu afternoon we finished hockey early to get to the Stockyards in time for late lunch at Risckeys BBQ and to watch the daily cattle drive. The highlight of the trip came later that night when we went to the famous Billy Bob's "world's largest honky-tonk" and partied to the live music of Cross Canadian Ragweed.
Highlights included one collapsed lung with a 4-day hospital stay, a long drive to the wrong rink, an overnight stay in a "downtown" hotel, and attemped after-hours events thwarted. A great time was had by all!
2006 Banff, Alberta
Hosted by: Steve Engram October 4-5, 2006 * Hotel: Banff Aspen Lodge * Rink: Banff Recreation Centre * Teams: 4
We had sweet condos at the lodge with plenty of room. Ordered 21 across at the Devil's Gash many times for much cash, met a 3-holer (or as Paul says, a bowling ball has 5 holes), and had our hockey Moms challenge us to drink. The hot springs were therapeutic but the drive back to Calgary at 0400 wasn't.
2005 Vail, Colorado
Hosted by: Mark Howell * Hotel: * Rink: * Teams:
2004 Lake Tahoe, California
Hosted by: Andy McGowan * Hotel: * Rink: * Teams:
2003 Ft. Collins, Colorado
Hosted by: Mark Howell * Hotel: * Rink: * Teams:
2002 Austin, Texas
Hosted by: Andy McGowan * Hotel: * Rink: * Teams:
2001 Grapevine, Texas
Hosted by: Andy McGowan * Hotel: * Rink: * Teams:
2000 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Hosted by: Tony Llabres * Hotel: Marriot Harbor Beach Resort * Rink: Incredible Ice * Teams: 4
The Richardson kids stayed in trouble with their Mom for repeating stuff we said and doing our dares. Steve Dunn chased a manatee and tried to imitate it in the pool but Hoops just said he looked like a fat white guy. More of us went on a cruise where we partied with Murderer's Row, the Hotlantas, and the Trailer Trashers. McGowan's great social experiment fell flat. Non-player Mike Ross slap-danced with the floor, sweated (really, seriously sweated) to the oldies, and spoke of well hung duck. At this time, this October Fall Classic became a yearly event that supplemented the Northeast Mini-Tournament.
1999 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Hosted by: Tony Llabres * Hotel: Marriot Harbor Beach Resort * Rink: Pompano Ice Arena * Teams: 3
On a whim, players from the Ft. Worth and Los Angeles hockey teams talked Tony into having some guys down for some fun, sun, and hockey on the beach in Fort Lauderdale. This tournament actually took the place of the Northeast tournament that is normally held in December (much further upstate) by the Carpenters. We partied nightly at Beachplace on the Strip, sung at Howl at the Moon, and one night, ATC bands from RSW and ZMA played in Sloppy Joe's. Our hospitality suite overlooked the ocean and Ft. Lauderdale skyline. We had beach cabanas and smuggled kegs in...until we finally got caught. Tony wore his infamous "Green Between" speedos on the beach! A few of us took a weekend Carnival Cruise to the Bahamas.
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