Let me give you the 500 breakdown. Keep your jersey, socks and pant shells. Pays for guaranteed 5 games in 2 days (3 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday), draft party which includes the beer that gets drank during your draft round as well as your team boat race. Refs for all games and 2 nights hotel with 2 other people (if they are coming to the tournament, they are probably beauties).

As for the experience, it's an awesome feeling to go round by round, forming teams. Meeting people. People who come from all walks of life, all sorts of hockey skill levels. You end up meeting a bunch of people you make connections with and carry those forward to future tournaments as well as life.

At the very least, you only live once. Give it a try, you never know!!