The Arena Series is a brand new event from the Junior League Management Committee (JLMC) featuring an U9 cross ice tournament, the first edition takes place this Friday in Nottingham.
A mix of club teams and drafted ‘NHL’ teams will play on the main pad at National Ice Centre ahead of Great Britain’s international challenge match with Poland on Friday evening.
Entries for clubs and individual players closed last Saturday, and the draft has taken place of individuals into their respective ‘NHL’ sides.
The teams taking part are as follows:
GROUP ONE – Bracknell, Sheffield, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Swindon, Coventry
GROUP TWO – Billingham, Milton Keynes 2, Bradford, Trafford, Telford
GROUP THREE – Rangers, Sharks, Kings, Flames, Swamp Frogs
Details of the player draft have been published via the JLMC TeamApp page so everyone is ready for action on Friday morning.
Registration is at 8am followed by the first games at 8.30am. Once the action is completed, the three groups will each have a meet and greet with the Great Britain mens team who are in Nottingham for their international challenge match with Poland.
JLMC Chair Jacqueline Pye said: “I’m looking forward to the day and I hope the players and parents are too. It’s a great opportunity to play at the main Arena in Nottingham just before Great Britain take to the ice.
“It’s fantastic that our u9 players will be able to meet and greet the GB players as well as share the same ice pad as the current GB internationals.”
In total there are over 50 games taking place, with additional stations for skills and training work before a group photo on the ice to round off the afternoon.