Friendship Four teams to compete for Belpot
Another crop of top US college hockey teams are set to compete in the third year of the Friendship Four in Belfast, with NCAA points and the Belpot trophy at stake.
The tournament has become an annual fixture on the sporting calendar in Northern Ireland over Thanksgiving weekend since its launch in 2015.
That marked the first time competitive NCAA games had been played outside North America, and the Friendship Four has only gone from strength to strength.
As well as showcasing sporting talent at the SSE Arena home of the Belfast Giants, the event continues to strengthen the bond between Belfast and Boston as sister cities.
It also builds on educational and economic links between Northern Ireland and the US, with the games broadcast on networks across North America.
This year sees the turn of Clarkson University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Maine, and Providence College to visit the city and compete in games on Friday and Saturday.
For current Belfast Giants player Colin Shields, it is extra special this year as he has been able to welcome his own former college side –Maine – to the city he calls home.
“To see all the teams come over and get to show their stuff here in Belfast, I think it’s great,” he said, fresh from his testimonial celebrating nine seasons of service to the Giants.
“You never know, some of these guys may suit up for the Giants one day.”
In sporting terms, the tournament is starting to pay off for the Giants, with players like Darcy Murphy and Chris Truehl first hitting the ice in Belfast as students before being snapped up.
And for hockey fans, it is a prime opportunity to get to watch the stars of the future in action - with a number of past Friendship Four players going on to play in leagues around the world, including the gold standard NHL.
FIXTURES
Friday 24 November
3pm – Clarkson University v RPI
7pm – Providence College v University of Maine
Saturday 25 November
3pm – Consolation Game
7pm – Friendship Four Championship Game