Holiday Cup Christmas spirit flows on to the pitch
- Klas Stolpe
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Futbol kits at annual tournament bear names that would make St. Nick chuckle
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
If you don’t believe in Santa Claus then you have not ventured through the cold to the Dimond Park Field House to watch the 33rd annual Holiday Cup soccer tournament.
Santa was there, wearing his cap in goal, and dozens of youth sporting team T-shirts with names that told the spirit of the season were engaged in “The Beautiful Game” — futbol.
“Everybody puts in a lot of thought in coming up with the unique Christmas theme names every year,” tournament co-sponsor Marty McKeown, owner of RE/MAX of Juneau, said. “They want to keep it in the Christmas spirit and the history of the tournament, it’s 34 years old, and it is something that is engrained in the Juneau soccer community year after year to go and enjoy soccer indoors and celebrate Christmas on the pitch.”
One of the largest sporting events in Juneau, with 28 teams this year and close to 400 athletes, the tournament is free to all, fans and players alike. And all can enjoy competition with sides sporting jerseys proclaiming “Kringle’s Kickers” or “Nat King Goal” or “NUTCRACKERS.”
Each year the Holiday Cup Soccer Tournament Committee holds a sweatshirt design contest in November in conjunction with the Juneau Soccer Club for aspiring artists to design the logo on the Holiday Cup sweatshirt. Sweatshirt sale proceeds go to support the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé girls’ soccer team.
This year, Ayden Henricksen, who plays on the elementary-age tournament team Candy Cane United, designed the logo for the shirts for sale at the tournament site or at holidaycup.org. It features a gingerbread soccer player chasing a soccer ball toward a candy cane street sign that sports the name of our town. The design was refined and digitalized by Anna Hoke, the tournament's website host.
Inspired by their artist, Candy Cane United defeated Stocking Squad 3-1 on Tuesday. Other elementary/middle/high school youth scores Tuesday featured Snowflake United over Jolly St Kicks 4-3, Frosty Futbolers topping St Nick Hat Tricks 9-5, Big Beard Ballers over North Pole United 7-3, Stocking Stuffers roasting Ice Kickles 8-1, Arctic Strikers nipping Snowball Snipers 4-3 and Candy Cane Commandos icing Happy Feet 8-5.
Classic/masters/senior game scores on Tuesday were not available, but featured Iced Out vs. Park the Sleigh, Snowball Snipers vs. Snow Strikers, Eggnog and Nutmeg vs. Chilkat Bandits, and Jingle Ballers FC vs. Return of the Honeybadgers.
The Holiday Cup will take a brief break as players rest up for Christmas, but will resume on Friday with the classic, masters and senior age groups thawing out for action, and on Saturday, the high school, middle school and elementary school age groups will resume. Tournament finals are New Year's Eve. The full schedule and scoring can be found at holidaycup.org.
“Folks should go to this year’s Holiday Cup to support all the athletes putting it out there on the pitch,” McKeown said. “And to visit with all their friends and family that are enjoying the holiday season indoors instead of outdoors.”
The Holiday Cup tournament was first held in 1991, organized by Paul Dillon and his law partner Tom Findley. Early action was at local gyms before the field house was built.
“His kids were going stir crazy one Christmas over holiday break when there wasn’t a lot of snow, so they found something for them and other kids to do, and the tradition just stuck,” tournament director Stacy Diouf said.
McKeown took over sponsorship of the tournament in 2011 (co-sponsors this year include Tingey Orthodontics, Moctar Diouf of New York Life, Vintage Food Truck Park and Alaskan Crepe Escape). He had first played in the Holiday Cup 26 years ago, has coached daughters Maddie and Katie in the tournament and played against his in-laws.
“Or my outlaws,” he said with a wink and a jolly laugh. “This tournament is something that generations of families have competed in and I think that is one of the reasons it is so popular. What brings families together more than sports and Christmas?”
McKeown might be seen on the turf playing for his original squad The Nutcrackers.
“I have a lot of family in town right now,” McKeown said. “That is a big cheering section, or a lot of hazers…We do bring a life-size Nutcracker that makes a lot of racket. It doesn’t help us win, but it sure keeps us in the spirit.”
Teams in the elementary school division (players must be 9 years old) include Snowflake United, Candy Cane United, Stocking Squad, Kringle’s Kickers and Jolly St Kicks.
Middle school division (grades 6, 7 and 8) teams include Big Beard Ballers, Frosty Futbolers, Stocking Stuffers, North Pole United, States. Nick Hat Tricks and Ice Kickles.
High school division (grades 9-12) teams include Candy Cane Commandos, Arctic Strickers, SNOWBALL SNIPERS, Happy Feet and Frostbite Futbolers.
Senior division (out of high school through age 21) teams include Iced Out, Park the Sleigh, Snow Strikers and Snowball Snipers.
Master division (age 22-35) teams include Eggnog and Nutmeg, Chilkat Bandits, Jingle Ballers FC and Return of the Honeybadgers.
Classic division (age 35 and up) teams include The Wet Bandits, Santa’s Slayers, NUTCRACKERS and Nat King Goal.
“I love that the community comes out and watches their kids play,” McKeown said. “It is such a wonderful time of year and when friends and family can get together on or around the pitch I just think that is my biggest Christmas present of all.”
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.
