Frozen Pride Classic 2026
Ends 10/24! Full teams: Register & submit a $150 deposit.
Free agents: no team? Don't worry!
COUNTDOWN TO PUCK DROP
Arrive
Thursday, 2/12
Games
Friday, 2/13 - Sunday, 2/15
Depart
Monday, 2/16 (US holiday)
Welcome to Frozen Pride Classic 2026. Our newer tournament brings pride hockey to the pond, set in wintery Winthrop, Washington.
Join us for a friendly weekend of outdoor hockey as 12 teams come together in a reimagined relaxed style of play. No pressure, no championship — this is an opportunity to hit the ice in the elements, and have fun while skating at one of the most unique outdoor rinks in North America.
You Spoke, We Listened
WE’RE LISTENING — AND 2026 IS ABOUT TO BE ICONIC.
Seattle Pride Classic is turning SIX — and we’re celebrating the best way we know how: by taking your feedback and leveling everything up. You shared. We listened. And now we’re bringing you a 2026 experience that’s smoother, smarter, and more fun from first whistle to final buzzer.
- Registration stays split — with a BIG upgrade. We’re keeping two separate registration windows (one for LGBTQIA+ players and one for our incredible allies), and we’re expanding the LGBTQIA+ Window of Opportunity from ONE week to TWO weeks.
Registration opens Monday, 2/9. Allies may register after two weeks on Monday, 2/23. - Competitive + Social Conferences are here to stay. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, so we’re continuing the split format in 2026.
- Social Conference will feature Upper and Lower divisions.
- Competitive Conference will be blended skill.
- Competitive Conference: we’re adding a CONFERENCE FINAL. That means a FIFTH game for the two teams who finish first in their division. More hockey. More energy. More bragging rights.
- Alaska Airlines: All Stars of Pride is moving to Saturday mid-day. We heard you: after a full weekend, Sunday evening is a lot. So we’re making All Stars more accessible (and way easier to enjoy).
- Social Conference games = Friday & Saturday only. No Sunday games for Social—so you can rest up, travel home, or roll into the stands to cheer on the Competitive Conference Final on Sunday afternoon.
- Sponsor a Player is here! You asked for an easier way for parents, friends, and supporters to help cover costs—and we’re thrilled to roll out a new sponsorship option that helps more players hit the ice.
- Tournament Guide: “Know Before You Go,” simplified. You want it easy to access, easy to save, and easy to reference—so we’re delivering the full guide as one single PDF you can keep at your fingertips.
- We saved the best for last. To keep Seattle Pride Classic affordable and sustainable for years to come, 2026 will be our final year issuing permanent player jerseys.
After Seattle Pride Classic 2026, we’ll shift to mass-produced tournament jerseys issued as temporary loaners for the weekend (one consistent design moving forward).
Want to help us build the jersey library? We’ll have a donation bin Saturday & Sunday if you’d like to donate your 2026 jersey for continued use.
Features / What Makes This Special
BUILT FOR PRIDE. POWERED BY YOU.
Tournament energy + community
- Pick your style – Pick your style – Competitive or Social, you are in the driver seat of what style of play you prefer.
- 20 total teams – Draft-style for maximum fun & competition!
- Four games guaranteed – More ice time, more action!
- Icebreaker Social – Kick off the weekend with a welcome party to meet teammates, reunite with friends, and start the vibes early.
- Alaska Airlines: All Stars of Pride Medals Ceremony – A shared “we did that” moment for the whole tournament community.
On-ice production value
- Live in-arena DJ + intermission music all weekend – Stoppages, intermissions, Sunday showcase games… it’s got a soundtrack.
- Alaska Airlines: All Stars of Pride Medals Ceremony – A shared “we did that” moment for the whole tournament community.
Registration & Dates
To register a team, submit a $150 refundable deposit.
This deposit is fully refundable if your team is not selected for the tournament, or if you withdraw your team prior to selection. Upon acceptance to the tournament, your deposit becomes non-refundable and non-transferable, and the remaining balance ($2,650) is due within 45 calendar days. You will need to invite your players to your team and assign dues to each player to submit payment against, or you can pay in full and collect from teammates separately.
Teams will be accepted based on a number of factors at the discretion of Seattle Pride Hockey Association with the intent of forming three, equally skilled divisions.
Don’t have enough players and need a couple? Don’t worry! We will have a pool of free agents to pull from throughout the process.
- Monday, September 8, 2025 @ 8:00 AM PT: Team deposits + free agent registration will open.
- Friday, October 24, 2025 @ 11:59 PM PT: Team deposits will conclude.
- Monday, November 3, 2025: Seattle Pride Hockey Association will announce teams by end of day. At this time, for teams accepted to the tournament, deposits become non-refundable, and the remaining team balance is due within 45 days.
- December 31, 2025: The goal is to publish the full tournament schedule no later than this date.
- Sunday, January 11, 2026: All teams should be paid in full.
Free agents
If you don’t have a team, don’t fret!
You may register as a free agent at no cost. While there are no guarantees of placement on a team, should there become an opening on one, you may be called upon to backfill that vacancy.
Once accepted to a team, you will need to submit payment of the applicable player dues to the Team Captain to finalize your spot. This could range anywhere from approximately $180 – $200 – depending upon the size of the overall team roster (since team dues are split across the rostered players).
Please plan accordingly – and don’t forget to factor in transportation/gas, lodging, entertainment/meals, etc. throughout the weekend.
And if you are in the free agency pool and can no longer play, please let us know. Don’t wait to inform us when you’re called upon to backfill a vacancy.
Cost
$2,650 team registration dues, after the team deposit.
If you roster 16 players (15 + 1) – split evenly – your total cost per person will be ~$175.
Deposits paid for teams are fully refundable if the team is not accepted into the tournament, or if you withdraw the team prior to selection. Upon acceptance to the tournament, the remaining team dues are due in full within 45 calendar days. You may assign dues amounts to players to submit payment towards, or you can collect from players and pay in full on their behalf.
Teams
We will host 14 teams spread across two to three divisions.
If more than 14 teams register, we must select the 14 teams that we believe will be most evenly matched within the three divisions.
All teams are guaranteed a total of four (4) games and 60-minute ice slots.
From left to right: Thursday & Friday; Saturday; Sunday. Click a graphic to open it fully.
Schedule
- Arrive
- Thursday, February 12, 2026
- Games
- Friday games are from 7:00 AM – 12:00 AM midnight
- Saturday games are from 7:00 AM – 12:00 AM midnight
- Sunday games are from 7:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- All teams will play four games guaranteed.
- One, 90-minute public skate each day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons
- Watch the action live & up close
There’s a great hang out spot rink side to watch and support your fellow teams during all games. Bring the UGG’s, the propane campfire pits, the drinks and socialize at the rink. - Apps & Brew Social
- We will host a fun invitational Apps & Brew Social on Saturday, February 14, from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM at Winthrop Barn.
Apps & Brew Social
We will host an Apps & Brew Social on Saturday, February 14 from 2 PM to 4 PM.
Join us for this fun invitational event:
- Light appetizers and snacks
- Beer & cocktails for sale
- Fun raffle prizes
- Tournament merchandise
- Plus, mix & mingle with your tournament peers!
LIVE STREAMING
Don’t live with FOMO – we got you!
We plan to live stream all games throughout the weekend – bandwidth/WiFi permitting. The live stream will take place during all blocks of games. Please reference the “SCHEDULE & EVENTS” tab for the full schedule. The live stream will go offline during other activities (events) including the public skate, Apps & Brews Social, etc.
You can live stream games through the following channels:
- Instagram Live: https://www.instagram.com/SEAPrideHockey/
- YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/@SEAPrideHockey
Location
Home sweet home at Winthrop Rink
Since the early 1900s, locals have ice skated on the frozen lakes and rivers of the Methow Valley in central Washington State. But in some winters, the temperatures weren’t cold enough for the water to safely freeze for skating. So, in 1999, community members founded a nonprofit and partnered with the Town of Winthrop to build an NHL-sized, refrigerated outdoor ice rink.
Winthrop Rink opened its doors in 2007 and has grown to provide 135 days of ice skating in the fall and winter seasons, and 120 days of dryland arena sports in the spring and summer.
Winthrop Rink is enjoyed by around 7,000 youth and 9,000 adults every year, and rink-related tourism generates over $1.3 million annually to the local economy.
Trip Planning
Winthrop Rink is a scenic five-hour drive from Seattle.
The town of Winthrop has an Old West theme, with a main street boardwalk featuring restaurants and shops. The Winthrop Rink is a ten-minute walk from the center of town.
Here are some helpful tips for teams traveling from outside of Washington:
- Fly into either Spokane International Airport or Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to start your trip.
- Seattle is approximately a 5 hour drive from Winthrop, assuming clear roads.
- Spokane is approximately 3 1/2 hours from Winthrop, again, assuming clear roads.
- Rent vehicles for the trip over the mountains; all-wheel drive is recommended during February.
Book lodging:
- A handful of hotels are located less than a 10-minute walk from the rink: Methow River Lodge & Cabins (rinkside), Chewuch Inn, Hotel Rio Vista, Mt. Gardner Inn.
- In addition to Airbnb and VRBO, Methow Reservations is a local site for vacation rental bookings with lower fees.
Visit WinthropWashington.com for more information.
Whether you’re traveling from out of state or just driving over from Seattle, all attendees are encouraged to use WSDOT’s Mountain Passes & Winter Travel page to stay up-to-date on road conditions.
Weather
Expect wintery weather, but be ready for anything!
The average high temperature in February is 39° F, with an average low of 18° F. It snows an average of 8 inches in February.
Games are played snow, rain or shine!
Pack appropriately for the elements with warm clothes, spare layers, and heavy jackets. Don’t forget the hand warmers to cheer on your friends rinkside and of course the boot dryers!
We aim to keep things balanced and fun.
To keep the games competitive and enjoyable for everyone, we’re maintaining two gameplay enhancements designed to promote fairness and balanced matchups. These adjustments aim to ensure close scores and prevent runaway games, fostering a fun and inclusive experience for all players.
Gretzky Rule: To keep the spirit of fairness and fun alive, no player may score more than three (3) goals in a single game. If a player nets a fourth (4th) goal, it will be disallowed, and play will resume with a faceoff in the offending team’s defensive zone, similar to an icing call. No penalties will be assessed. This rule is designed to prevent dominant players from overshadowing the game, encouraging a more balanced team effort and giving everyone a chance to shine.
Blue Line Icing: For smoother gameplay and fewer interruptions, icing will only be called if the puck is shot from inside a team’s defending zone (behind their blue line) and crosses the opposing team’s far-red line. This adjustment, especially helpful for beginner-level games, keeps the gameplay flowing, reduces repetitive stoppages, and ensures more time is spent playing rather than constantly resetting the puck.
No standings, no championships: We will keep score as usual (we know your stats are important to you); however, there are no standings, no championships, no first place teams. Everyone is a winner.
Additional Notes
- In the spirit of keeping Winthrop Rink a family and kid-friendly environment, alcohol/beer are not permitted inside Winthrop Rink or locker rooms. Please reserve consumption for nearby bars/saloon or places of lodging.
- Teams must have one (1) primary jersey color + one (1) secondary/backup jersey color to adhere to away & home requirements and avoid potential jersey conflicts with match up opponents.
- If your team requires jerseys, please consider contacting JerzeysFX Custom Sports Apparel.
- Teams must have a minimum of 11 players (10 skaters + 1 goaltender) but should not have more than 16 (15 skaters + 1 goaltender). Additional registration costs may be added to teams rostered with more than 16 total players.
- All players must have face protection – regardless of division. This includes a half-shield/viser, hybrid bubble cage, or full face cage. Given the lower level of play, players may not not have face protection while playing.
Insurance
Protect yourself from the unexpected
USA Hockey membership
All players in Frozen Pride Classic 2026 are required to have an active USA Hockey membership for the 2025-26 season. This membership provides essential insurance coverage for players, including liability and secondary medical coverage in case of injury during tournament play. If you are not already a USA Hockey member, you can register at usahockey.com.
Optional registration insurance
We understand that life happens, and unexpected events like injury, illness, or family emergencies can disrupt your plans. That’s why we offer optional registration insurance, allowing you to protect your registration fees under qualifying circumstances. If an unforeseen event prevents you from playing, this insurance helps safeguard and prevents forfeiture of your registration fees. Full details, including cost, coverage and how to opt in, will be provided during registration. Or, you can visit https://landing.verticalinsure.com/leagueapps.
Contact
Have questions? We’re here to help!
Whether you’re registering, need tournament details, or can’t make it as a player, we’ve got your back!
Call or text us: (206) 627-0005
Email us: Frozen@SeattlePrideHockey.org
Tournament weekend: Find a staff member around the rink all weekend long
We’re ready to help make your Frozen Pride Classic 2026 experience unforgettable!
Events
Thursday: Weekend Toast @ Three Fingered Jacks
On Thursday, 2/12 from 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM, gather at Three Fingered Jacks, grab your favorite drink,
and at ~9:00 PM we’ll hit the streets with Methow Pride
to cheers & toast to the start of a fantastic weekend!
Friday: Pride Best Pride Skate @ Winthrop Rink
On Friday, 2/13 from 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM, don your pride best and skate with Seattle Pride Hockey Association, Methow Pride, and members of the Methow Valley under the open sky.
Saturday: Apps & Brew Social @ Winthrop Barn
On Saturday, 2/14 from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM, join us at the Winthrop Barn for a fun invitational, plus mix & mingle with all your tournament peers and their guests. We’ll offer appetizers, along with alcohol & beer for sale, plus special merch & raffles!
Volunteer
Join us in bringing Frozen Pride Classic 2026 to life as we produce and operate the most inclusive, high-energy hockey weekend on the planet! Whether you’re a die-hard hockey fan, a passionate community member, or just love being part of something legendary, we need YOU! As a volunteer, you will:
👋 Connect with the local & national hockey community.
🙌 Give back through meaningful community service.
🌟 Score exclusive swag – a volunteer T-shirt & badge!
Check out all the exciting volunteer opportunities below and join the team making hockey history!
Can't play? Support in other ways
Seattle Pride Hockey Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization on a mission to grow the sport of ice hockey through diversity and inclusion. We believe that hockey is for everyone, and we work hard to create programs that bring our communities together to celebrate diversity.
Sponsor a player
At Seattle Pride Hockey Association, we believe hockey should be accessible to everyone. Our Sponsor a Player program allows community members, friends, and supporters to contribute toward a player’s registration costs.
