Two long-running traditions brought the season to a close at Rukavina Arena this week, giving Silver Bay one more burst of competition before the ice came out for the year.
The 21st annual Rink Rat Tournament took over the rink on March 10 with its biggest competition yet. What began as an eight‑team event expanded to a ten‑team double‑elimination bracket this year, a change that added more games and more energy to the fast‑paced 3v3 half‑ice format.
“Rink Rat is officially in its 21st year, and it just keeps getting bigger and better,” Dustin Goutermont, a local coach and organizer of the event, said.
After working through the bracket, the 2026 champions were Darryl Hansen, Nate Breden, Breckon Hoff and Max Haugen.
The next day brought another tradition with even deeper roots. The Silver Cup, now nearing its 30th year, once again filled the Ruk with Bantam, high school and adult players competing for the chance to have their names added to the trophy. The event began in the late 1990s and has grown into a staple of the local hockey calendar, drawing a waiting list every year.
“Teams come together to compete for the honor of having their names etched on the Silver Cup for years to come,” Goutermont said.
The 2026 Silver Cup champions were: Max Haugen, Max Klemmer, Brayden Cates, Gordon Goutermont, Haydn Stahl, Jake Stadler, Wyatt Metzger, Mikaela Lindgren, Reese Costley, Hayden Bright, Logan Woods, Shane Hoff, Justin Ketola, Grady Hoff, Shane Loeffler, Tucker Cook, Andrew Wehrman and Kade Norman.
Silver Bay Hockey marked the end of the season with a thank‑you on their Facebook page to the people who keep the rink running.
“The last hurrah at the Ruk this year was the 2026 Silver Cup,” the association shared. “As the ice comes out today, we want to thank all the arena staff, players, parents, coaches, volunteers, sponsors and community for their roles in making hockey possible.”
