10/27/2015
Hockey Now
By Randy Lucenti
For the first time in its history, NCAA Division 1 men's hockey teams will be playing meaningful games outside the borders of the U.S. starting this season.
Four college teams will head across the pond for a unique experience in Belfast, Ireland during the American Thanksgiving weekend in November.
Billed as the 'The Friendship Four,' the UMass Lowell River Hawks, Northeastern Huskies, Brown Bears and Colgate Raiders will take part in a mini-tournament, which the NCAA hopes is just the first of a five to 10-year experiment featuring teams competing in Belfast.
The games will take place at the Odyssey Arena, home of the European professional team the Stena Line Belfast Giants, who will also be playing Elite League matches during the event. The tourney is expected to draw fans from across Ireland, Great Britain and the U.S. from Nov. 27 to 29.
“We are really excited these top university teams have chosen Belfast as the first city outside of the U.S. to play competitive league matches,” said Friendship Four project manager Shane Johnson. “Belfast is making a name for itself as a city that knows how to host events and I know the Belfast fans will enjoy watching a weekend of great hockey action.”
The college teams will each play a pair of matches during their week-long journey with the opening games counting as not only the 'The Friendship Four' semi-finals, but also counting as league games back home. The River Hawks are facing the Huskies in a Hockey East showdown while the Bears and Raiders tangle for ECAC Conference points.
The winners will play for the tournament title and the first 'Belpot Trophy' while the losers will face off in a consolation match.
Canadian players will play prominent roles in the Belfast event as a total of 30 are members of the four competing squads. The Raiders have 13 skaters from north of the border on their roster while the Huskies have nine. The Bears and Hawks feature five and three Canucks respectively.
Canadian players headed to 'The Friendship Four' are as follows:
COLGATE RAIDERS:
Charlie Finn (Jr. G), North Vancouver; Kevin Lough (D/Sr.), Kanata, Ont.; Tyson Spink (F/Sr.), Williamstown, Ont.; Rory McGuire (D/Fr.), Bracebridge, Ont.; Darcy Murphy (F/Sr.), Marysville, Ont.; Emilio Audi (F/Jr.), Montreal, Que.; Tyler Spink (F/Sr.), Williamstown, Ont.; Brett Corky (D/Jr.), Calgary, Alta.; Mike Burkowski (F/Sr.), Kanata, Ont.; Anthony Sanniti (D/Jr.), LaSalle, Que.; Mike Panowyk (F/So.), Whitby, Ont.; Hunter Racine (F/Fr.), Ottawa, Ont.; and Zac Hamilton (G/So.), Ottawa Ont.
NORTHEASTERN HUSKIES:
Derik Roy (G/Jr.), Lac-Beaport, Que.; Matt Benning (D/Jr.), St. Albert, Alta.; Mike McMurtry (F/Sr.), Greely, Ont.; Dylan Sikura (F/So.), Aurora, Ont.; Kevin Roy (F/Sr.), Lac-Beaport, Que.; Eric Williams (D/Fr.), Newmarket, Ont.; Dalen Hedges (F/Jr.), Ottawa, Ont.: Dustin Darow (D/Sr.), Perth, Ont.; and Jarrett Fennell (D/Sr.), Innisfil, Ont.
BROWN BEARS:
Tim Ernst (G/Jr.), Pickering, Ont.; Kyle Kramer (F/Jr.), Qualicum Beach, B.C.; Brandon Pfeil (D/Sr.), West Vancouver; Zack Pryzbek (F/Jr. F), Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.; and Tyler Steel (G/Jr.), Vernon, B.C.
UMASS LOWELL RIVER HAWKS:
Tyler Mueller (D/So.), Regina, Sask.; Evan Campbell (F/Jr.), Port Coquitlam, B.C.; and Connor Wilson (F/Fr.), Calgary, Alta.