The Santa Claus Cup started in December 2007, and in the first few years, it evolved significantly, even being called the Christmas Cup twice. However, the core idea has remained unchanged since the beginning: to start a tradition – which we believe we have successfully done. This year, in 2024, we will be organizing one of Europe’s largest youth tournaments for the 17th time.
The name Santa Claus Cup has become synonymous with Dunaújváros for many people, but the third and fourth tournaments (in 2009 and 2010) were organized in Zalaegerszeg by Vladimír Babic, the tournament’s creator and chief organizer. Since its inception, the tournament has been organized under the auspices of the Dunaújvárosi Jégtörők Egyesület (Dunaújváros Icebreakers Association) by the Slovak expert. This structure was complemented by the Hungary Talent team (also initiated by Vladimír Babic), which has been involved in organizing the Santa Claus Cup since 2015.
From 2023, and this year again, we are organizing the tournament in Győr for the second time. The tournament is played on small rinks, with simultaneous games happening in every section of the rink. The Santa Claus Cup was originally launched for the U10 age group, and it remained that way until 2015. The year 2015 is of historical significance, as that is when the official logo of the tournament was created, and the tournament was expanded to two age groups, allowing U9 teams to compete alongside the U10s. Since 2018, we have divided participants into different levels, as a large number of teams want to participate each year. As a result, starting this year, there will be an U10 A group, in addition to U10 AAA, U10 AA, and U9 AAA.
Over the years, 110 clubs from 15 countries have participated in the tournament with a total of 477 teams:
• 2007: 10 teams (U10) • 2008: 10 teams (U10) • 2009: 12 teams (U10) • 2010: 12 teams (U10) • 2011: 16 teams (U10) • 2012: 16 teams (U10) • 2013: 18 teams (U10) • 2014: 18 teams (U10) • 2015: 32 teams (U10 AAA and U9 AAA) • 2016: 35 teams (U10 AAA and U9 AAA) • 2017: 36 teams (U10 AAA and U9 AAA) • 2018: 52 teams (U10 AAA, U10 AA, and U9 AAA) • 2019: 76 teams (U10 AAA, U10 AA, U10 A, and U9 AAA) • 2020: Cancelled due to the COVID pandemic • 2021: 31 teams (U10 AAA, U10 AA) • 2022: 35 teams (U10 AAA, U10 AA) • 2023: 69 teams (U10 AAA, U10 AA, U10 A)
The list above shows how a small tournament has grown into one of Central Europe’s largest and best tournaments.
The banners of the winning teams, adorned with their logos, hang from the ceiling of the ice rink. Here are the past winners:
• 2007: Huks Warsaw (POL) • 2008: HC Csíkszereda (ROU) • 2009: Cervena Zvezda Belgrade (SRB) • 2010: Hoba Bratislava (SVK) • 2011: Valasské Meziříčí (CZE) • 2012: Hoba Bratislava (SVK) • 2013: HC Kosice (SVK) • 2014: Hoba Bratislava (SVK) • 2015: DAB Dunaújváros (HUN) • 2016: Piráti Chomutov (CZE) • 2017: Oceláři Trinec (CZE) • 2018: HC Děčín (CZE) • 2019: HC Kosice (SVK) • 2020: (Cancelled) • 2021: HC Děčín (CZE) • 2022: Barani Banská Bystrica (SVK) • 2023: Pilsen Wolves (CZE)
In the sixteen years of the tournament, there is one club that has participated every year: HOBA Bratislava. This Slovak team also holds the record for the most tournament wins, having been crowned champions three times.
Let your team be part of this tradition, and let’s write history together!
