A Legendary Tournament Returns to Santa Rosa
The 51st edition of the Senior World Hockey Tournament will take place at Snoopy’s Home Ice in Santa Rosa from July 17 through July 26. More than 70 teams and roughly 1,100 players, all aged 40 and older, are slated to compete across a series of divisions.
The tournament’s roots trace back to Charles Schultz, who built the rink in the late 1960s and began hosting the event in Santa Rosa in 1975. Over nearly five decades it has evolved, adding a new all‑women’s division this year, with four teams making up the inaugural season.
Competition will be organized into brackets for over‑40, over‑50, over‑60 and over‑70 age groups, while the maiden all‑women’s bracket showcases the growing participation of female veterans. Players and their families are expected to travel from the United States, Mexico and Canada to join the festivities.
Games often begin as early as 3:30 a.m. and can run past midnight, reflecting the packed schedule that the organizers have prepared to accommodate the full slate of matches.
Admission is free for all spectators, allowing the community to experience high‑level senior hockey without a ticket barrier. Tournament Director Blake Johnson, who has overseen the event for the past decade, describes the atmosphere as a celebration of lifelong sport and fellowship.
Beyond the ice, the gathering serves as a reunion for many who have been playing together for decades, reinforcing the sense of camaraderie that has defined the tournament since its inception.