There is little doubt that the best part of winter at Northwood is Winter Weekend, when the school community — including students, parents and alumni — comes together to celebrate winter sports, catch up with friends, and appreciate unique experiences available in Lake Placid.
Winter Weekend is also the year’s largest sporting event at the school, featuring the 40th Annual Northwood Invitational hockey tournament, in which thirty-six teams will compete in four divisions.

Northwood and Shattuck-St. Mary’s players in the handshake line after a Northwood INvitational game in 2017 (Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge).
The Junior Team will have three games this weekend in the Showcase Division, which features some of the best U20 hockey teams in North America. On Saturday, January 19th, the Junior Team will play Nichols School. On Sunday, they face St. Andrew’s College, one of Northwood Hockey’s biggest rivals, and on Monday they take on Albany Academy.

Junior team action at the 2018 Northwood Invitational Tournament (Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge).
The Prep Team will play in the Invitational Division against NH Avalanche and North Broward Prep on Saturday, and against Islanders Hockey Club on Sunday.
For some Northwood athletes, this weekend will be an opportunity to be scouted by junior and college teams and rise to a higher level in their hockey career.

Aimee Headland ’19 celebrates a goal in the 2018 Northwood INvitational (Photo: Mr. Aldridge).
Girls’ Hockey will also be in action this weekend, playing in the Girls’ Invitational Division, with games against Walpole Express and OHA on Saturday, and Rice Prep, the girls’ most bitter geographical rival and league foe, on Sunday.
Complete tournament schedules and results are available on the tournament website.

Pond Hockey on Mirror Lake.
The hockey tournament isn’t the only Northwood event in town this weekend. There will also be receptions for alumni ski racers and for all alumni and parents, a cross country ski outing, and even a pond hockey tournament. A schedule of events is available here.
So no matter if you live and breath ice hockey, or just want to experience beautiful Lake Placid in her winter glory, this weekend at Northwood is the place to be.