The Backyard Classic

03/31/2026

And nowwwwww for our winners!!!! Thank you all for purchasing merch and raffles…

03/31/2026

Wow… what an incredible weekend 🤍

We are beyond grateful for the success of this year’s Backyard Classic. None of it would be possible without the amazing people behind it.

A HUGE thank you to the BYC team for the countless hours, hard work, and dedication it takes to bring this event to life. It truly does not go unnoticed.

To our sponsors—thank you for believing in us and continuing to support such a meaningful cause. Your generosity helps make a real impact for the Compassion Connection and the families it serves.

And to our volunteers… volunteers, volunteers, volunteers… we cannot say it enough. This event simply would not function without you. Your time, energy, and willingness to help in any way is what keeps everything running smoothly.

To our players and supporters—thank you for showing up, bringing the energy, and being part of something so special. We hope you enjoyed the weekend as much as we loved having you.

From the bottom of our hearts—thank you for making this year’s Backyard Classic unforgettable 🤍🏒

03/29/2026

Day 2 of The Backyard Classic! We have 60+ Teams playing with 7 age groups from 6U - Adults!! Come down and watch the action..it’s free!
Thank you to all our sponsors, volunteers and especially our players. We are so proud to be supporting the PUNT Pediatric Cancer Collaborative and WNY Compassion Connection…our 17th year of giving back to WNY!!

03/19/2026

Thank you Kate for the great article shedding light on what The Backyard Classic has done and continues to do in The WNY Community.

Buffalo Backyard Classic set for March 28-29

03/16/2026

A bonus offering on Substack this week ahead of The Backyard Classic 🏒 Hockey with Heart 👇🏻❤️

Buffalo Backyard Classic set for March 28-29

03/13/2026

🚨 LAST CALL! 7 DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER! MORE THAN 50 TEAMS HAVE REGISTERED FOR ONE OF THE BEST HOCKEY TOURNAMENT OF THE YEAR!🚨
The registration deadline for The Backyard Classic is March 21st! We are just weeks away from tournament at Buffalo Riverworks on March 28-29, 2026, and divisions are almost full.
Secure your spot in the schedule before its too late!
Your Registration Includes:
✅ 3 Game Guarantee with full nets & goalies!
✅ Heated Locker Rooms & Open Arcade
✅ Bars, Restaurant & Live Music All Day
Divisions:
⚡️ Youth Teams (4v4): $750 (Max 14 players)
⚡️ Adult Teams (3v3): $550 (Max 8 players)
Play pond hockey at its best for a great cause—this event benefits grieving children & families in our community ❤️.
Click below and lock in your team NOW before the deadline! 👇
https://www.buffalobackyardclassic.com/

03/10/2026

Has YOUR team signed up for this tournament yet? Don't miss out. Registrations closing in 10 days! 50+ Teams already registered! Register on our site: https://www.buffalobackyardclassic.com/

Join Buffalo’s Backyard Classic — a premier outdoor pond hockey tournament with all ages, full nets, games & playoffs while supporting P.U.N.T.

03/07/2026

🚨 HAS YOUR TEAM REGISTERED YET?! 50+ TEAMS HAVE REGISTERED FOR ONE OF THE BEST HOCKEY TOURNAMENTS OF THE YEAR!🚨
The registration deadline for The Backyard Classic is March 21st! We are just weeks away from puck drop at Buffalo Riverworks on March 28-29, 2026, and divisions are almost full.
Don't leave your squad on the bench. Secure your spot in Buffalo's premier outdoor hockey tournament before it's too late!
Your Registration Includes:
✅ 3 Game Guarantee with full nets & goalies!
✅ Heated Locker Rooms & Open Arcade
✅ Bars, Restaurant & Live Music All Day
Divisions:
⚡️ Youth Teams (4v4): $750 (Max 14 players)
⚡️ Adult Teams (3v3): $550 (Max 8 players)
Play pond hockey at its best for a great cause—this event benefits grieving children & families in our community ❤️.
Click below and lock in your team NOW before the deadline! 👇
https://www.buffalobackyardclassic.com/

02/25/2026

🎟️ The Backyard Classic Raffle 🎟️
Looking for a chance to win an awesome prize while supporting a great cause? We're raffling off a brand new Bad Boy Rambler 42" Zero-Turn Mower — valued at $4,439.99!
This mower is built in the USA and features a 42" welded steel deck, zero-turn maneuverability, and a compact residential footprint. It's built to last and ready to tackle your yard this spring! 🏡
🎫 Tickets: $20 each or 3 for $50!
💳 Venmo: -Taggart-13 (MUST ADD YOUR PHONE NUMBER TO PAYMENT NOTES)
🗓️ The winning ticket will be drawn at The Backyard Classic Hockey Tournament on March 29th at Buffalo RiverWorks.
All proceeds benefit charity grieving children and families. ❤️
Don't miss your shot — grab your tickets today and help support an incredible cause!
HUGE SHOUTOUT TO Buffalo Outdoor Power Equipment FOR SPONSORING THIS RAFFLE!

02/17/2026

🎟️ The Backyard Classic Raffle 🎟️
Looking for a chance to win an awesome prize while supporting a great cause? We're raffling off a brand new Bad Boy Rambler 42" Zero-Turn Mower — valued at $4,439.99!
This mower is built in the USA and features a 42" welded steel deck, zero-turn maneuverability, and a compact residential footprint. It's built to last and ready to tackle your yard this spring! 🏡
🎫 Tickets: $20 each or 3 for $50!
💳 Venmo: -Taggart-13 (MUST ADD YOUR PHONE NUMBER TO PAYMENT NOTES)
🗓️ The winning ticket will be drawn at The Backyard Classic Hockey Tournament on March 29th at Buffalo RiverWorks.
All proceeds benefit charity grieving children and families. ❤️
Don't miss your shot — grab your tickets today and help support an incredible cause!

02/03/2026

🏒 BUFFALO'S BIGGEST OUTDOOR HOCKEY TOURNAMENT IS ONLY A MONTH AWAY! 🏒
⏰ MARCH 28-29, 2026 | SPOTS FILLING FAST ⏰
The 17th Annual Buffalo Backyard Classic returns to Buffalo Riverworks – and if you've never experienced it, you're missing out on Buffalo's most legendary hockey weekend. If you HAVE experienced it, you know exactly why you need to register your team NOW.
🎫 REGISTER YOUR TEAM: www.buffalobackyardclassic.com

WHY THIS TOURNAMENT SELLS OUT EVERY YEAR:
🏆 ALL AGES & SKILL LEVELS – IT'S ALL ABOUT FUN – 6U youth through 50+ adult divisions. Boys, girls, men's, women's – everyone plays. Competitive AND recreational brackets mean you'll find the perfect fit whether you're here to crush it or just have a blast with your buddies.
⛸️ Play cross-ice on two full-size rinks at Buffalo Riverworks with perfect ice conditions
🎯 3+ GAME GUARANTEE – Round robin PLUS playoffs for top seeds. All games on your chosen day (Saturday OR Sunday). Morning brackets 8am-1pm, afternoon brackets 1pm-6pm. Arrive 45 minutes before your first game.
🔥 THE FULL RIVERWORKS EXPERIENCE:
✅ Heated locker rooms
✅ Bars & restaurants open all day
✅ Live music throughout the weekend
✅ Open arcade for the kids
✅ Full nets & goalies provided
✅ Family-friendly atmosphere – bring everyone!

TEAM PRICING:
🥅 Youth Divisions: $750/team | 4v4 gameplay | Max 9 players
24 youth divisions: Boys & Girls 6U through 16U/18U, with House & Travel brackets for each age group

🥅 Adult Divisions: $550/team | 3v3 gameplay | Max 6 players
Under 30 Recreational
Under 30 Competitive
Over 30 Recreational
Over 50 Recreational

HERE'S WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENT:
This is pond hockey the way it's meant to be played – for the pure joy of the game and the people you're playing with.
And the best part? 100% of proceeds benefit grieving children & families. Every shift you take, every goal you score, every laugh you share with your teammates – it all goes toward helping families & children when they need it most.
You're not just playing hockey for fun. You're making a real difference while doing it.

⚠️ SPOTS FILLING FAST – 17 years strong. Last year sold out. Teams travel from across the region. Register now!
👉 SECURE YOUR TEAM'S SPOT NOW: www.buffalobackyardclassic.com
📍 Buffalo Riverworks, Buffalo, NY
📅 March 28-29, 2026
💙 Hockey with Heart – Fun with Purpose (Benefits grieving families & children)
Let's make the 17th annual Backyard Classic the biggest one yet. See you on the ice! 🏒

02/02/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Backyard Classic’s 2nd Annual Meat Raffle benefiting PUNT and WNY Compassion Connection—WNY’s first peer-to-peer counseling center. Your support truly means more than we can put into words.

A huge thank you to the volunteers who spent countless hours planning, organizing, and working behind the scenes to make this event such a success, and to everyone who generously donated baskets—your kindness made a big impact.

The night was an absolute blast filled with laughs, creative outfits, fun jewelry, and some seriously great meat winnings 🥩😄 Because of all of you, the event was a huge success, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

Thank you for showing up, showing support, and helping make a difference in our community. We’re already looking forward to next year! ❤️ See you at our next HUGE event… the Backyard Classic Hockey tournament March 28th and 29th at Riverworks!!!