One of the longest-running all-girls hockey tournaments in the United States returns to Erie for its first two-weekend run, due to popular demand.
The 32nd annual Sarah Backstrom Memorial Tournament, hosted by Lake Effect Hockey, kicks off this Friday and runs through Sunday, with more games scheduled for Feb. 13-16.
Tournament games for the 30 teams participating this weekend will be held at Erie Insurance Arena, Flo Fabrizio Ice Center and Mercyhurst Ice Center as LECOM Sports Park is temporarily closed due to emergency electrical work. An additional 60-plus teams will compete next weekend (Feb. 13-16) at Erie Insurance Arena, Flo Fabrizio Ice Center, Mercyhurst Ice Center and LECOM Sports Park.
The two-weekend tournament will feature more than 90 teams competing with over 1,600 athletes participating from 12 states and Ontario. With teams traveling from as far as Colorado, Florida and Montana, the tournament has further established itself as a top event for sports tourism in the region.
Games will be played each day from approximately 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at every venue. At least two divisions in every age group, ranging from 10U to 19U, will play throughout the two weekends.
“We are grateful for the continued growth of this event, and the community that unites around it, contributing to both its success and the positive economic impact it brings to the Erie region,” said Jason Fowler, owner of Lake Effect Hockey. “A special thank you goes out to all of our hotel partners who go to such great lengths to make this tournament bigger and better every year.”
The tournament is named in honor of Sarah Backstrom, a former Erie Lady Lion hockey player who passed away from leukemia in 1999. What began as a small, local effort has grown into a testament to the growth of girls' hockey.
Lake Effect Hockey is proud to partner once again with the Mario Lemieux Foundation to support pediatric leukemia research and awareness, with a portion of the tournament’s proceeds being donated to the foundation.
For more information on the Sarah Backstrom Memorial Tournament, click here.
Additionally, EPIC Volleyball will be hosting its first of five tournaments at Fort LeBoeuf High School this Sunday. The tournament will start at 8:30 a.m. and will feature 12 14R teams. The next tournament will take place on Feb. 15.
