Mercyhurst chosen to host 2018 Ice Breaker Tournament

IceBreaker_LECOM-ColorThe Erie Sports Commission and Mercyhurst have been chosen to host the 2018 Ice Breaker Tournament.

The event will be hosted at Erie Insurance Arena Oct. 12-13, 2018, and will be the first time an Atlantic Hockey school has played host to the tournament.

Notre Dame, Providence, Miami and Mercyhurst make up the four-team field.

“This is truly an honor for us, especially as the first member of Atlantic Hockey to host the Ice Breaker,” said Mercyhurst coach Rick Gotkin in a statement. “It is a very prestigious event when you can host Notre Dame, Providence, Miami and Mercyhurst, and bring them together in a spectacular facility like the Erie Insurance Arena. It’s going to be a great weekend.”

“We are very excited to start the 2018-19 men’s NCAA hockey season in Erie,” added College Hockey Inc. executive director Mike Snee. “The Ice Breaker Tournament will be a perfect way to celebrate over 30 years of college hockey at Mercyhurst University. It will also be a unique opportunity for fans in northwestern Pennsylvania to see some intriguing schools that don’t make regular visits to Erie.”

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine will serve as the event’s title sponsor.

Tickets to the 2018 Ice Breaker Tournament will be available for purchase Thursday, Nov. 22 through the Erie Insurance Arena box office. Weekend passes can be purchased for $49 and provide access to all four games. Day passes will go on sale at a later date.

The 2017 Ice Breaker Tournament will be hosted by Minnesota Duluth from Oct. 6-7, 2017.