Excitement builds for Harness Friendship Four as US college teams arrive in Belfast

The tournament returns for the first time since 2019, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, promising two packed days of high energy, fast-paced hockey in the heart of Belfast over Thanksgiving weekend (Friday 25 and Saturday 26 November 2022).

The first and only NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division One ice hockey tournament to take place outside the United States, the high-profile tournament, organised by The Odyssey Trust, brings four top US college hockey teams - UMass Lowell River Hawks, Massachusetts Minutemen (UMass), Quinnipiac Bobcats and Dartmouth Big Green - together to compete for the coveted Belpot trophy at The SSE Arena, Belfast. With the teams now in Belfast, final preparations are under way for the tournament this weekend.

Promising an exceptionally high standard of hockey, local fans will have the chance to see some of the stars of the future compete in Belfast this weekend. Some of the young players that have competed in previous Friendship Four tournaments have gone on to progress into the NHL, whilst the tournament has also proven to be a strong scouting opportunity for the Belfast Giants. Current Giants Scott Conway, Jeff Baum and Matt Foley were first seen on Belfast ice, when they played for their college teams at the tournament.