More than 350 sled hockey players from across the country are expected in Las Vegas this week for the 2026 USA Hockey Sled Classic, a four-day national tournament hosted by the Vegas Golden Knights that splits games between two valley rinks through Sunday.
The event, presented by the NHL, runs Thursday through Sunday at City National Arena and America First Center, according to usahockey.com. Tiers 3, 4 and 6 will play at City National Arena, while Tiers 1, 2 and 5 are slated for America First Center, the same source notes. As reported by KSNV, organizers expect 28 teams and more than 350 players for the six-tier event, which also features NHL-affiliated adult sled hockey clubs and a local team representing the Golden Knights.
Each tier works through round-robin play before moving to semifinals, which KSNV reports are scheduled for Saturday, with championship games following on Sunday. The station's report adds that a full schedule and additional tournament details are posted online for fans looking to catch specific matchups across the two venues.
A Growing Sport Finds a Bigger Stage
Sled hockey has been expanding nationally in recent years. USA Hockey has reported that participation grew 41% over the past decade, climbing from a little more than 1,000 participants to about 1,500 participants during the 2022-2023 season, per usahockey.com. The organization's disabled hockey section chairperson, Maureen Thompson-Siegel, has said participation numbers have improved markedly in the years since pandemic-era disruptions hit disabled hockey programs.
Vegas Already Has Sled Hockey Pedigree
Las Vegas is no stranger to sled hockey success heading into this weekend's tournament. The Vegas Golden Chariots are a coed youth sled hockey team formed to give children with physical disabilities and their able-bodied peers a shared opportunity to play. NHL.com has separately described the Golden Chariots' inclusive mission of welcoming both disabled and able-bodied children to the sled hockey rink.
That program capped its season with a title run this past May, capturing the 2025-26 USA Hockey Sled National Championship, per the City National Arena report. The Golden Chariots beat the Dallas Sled Stars Youth 3-0 in Dallas, Texas.
