Snoopy's Senior World Hockey Tournament (commonly known as the "Snoopy Tournament") is a major amateur ice hockey tournament held every summer at Redwood Empire Ice Arena in Santa Rosa, California. Charles M. Schulz, creator of the comic strip Peanuts and owner of the arena, started the tournament in the mid-1970s.
The entire tournament consists of 64 teams split up into many different divisions. The teams are divided up by age group: 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, and 75. A player is able to play in a younger division but not an older one. For example, a 50 year old forward can play in either the 40, 45 or 50 year old division, but he is not eligible to play in the 55 or higher. Goaltenders are the only exception to this rule.
The teams in each division play a round-robin series, playing each other only once.
Schulz played in the tournament every year up until his death. He was a member of the legendary Diamond Icers team that is still currently in the 75 year old division. His son Monte Schulz is also playing in the tournament.
Teams come from all over the world to play: United States, Canada, parts of Europe, and even Japan.
The Snoopy Tournament has also attracted the attention of some retired pro National Hockey League players as well as some celebrities. Some of the former NHLers who have played in the tournament are Red Berenson, Ernie Hicke, Terry Harper, and Mel Bridgman. Another notable participant in the tournament is television producer David E. Kelley, creator of The Practice and Ally McBeal.
This past year's Snoopy Tournament was held July 10-17, 2010.