Hockey East, ECAC Hockey and the Odyssey Trust jointly announced Wednesday the return of the Friendship Series for the 2023-24 season as Princeton and Providence will renew the women’s college hockey event with a two-game series on January 6-7, 2024 at SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The weekend will be part of a home by the Belfast Giants, the professional team that skates from the SSE Arena as part of the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League. This will mark the third iteration of a women’s college hockey event, following clashes between Clarkson and Northeastern in 2018-19 and Merrimack and Quinnipiac in 2019-20.
Chain of Friendship is an extension of the fourth Friendship Tournament, pioneered by the Odyssey Trust in 2015, and developed to promote education, social care and community integration in Northern Ireland, building on the Sister Cities Agreement between Belfast and Boston.
The Friendship Series Four and Friendship Series grew out of a relationship that began when the Boston Bruins played an exhibition game against the Giants in 2010, before going on to win the Stanley Cup that same year.
Hockey East commissioner Steve Metcalf said, “Hockey East remains committed to providing unforgettable experiences for our student-athletes, and we are excited to have two new women’s teams back in Belfast for another Friendship Series.” “We appreciate the opportunity the great people in Belfast provide and look forward to continuing the series into the future.”
Belfast and Boston signed a ‘Sister Cities’ agreement in 2014, designed to promote stronger economic development, trade and investment, tourism, youth, cultural and religious exchanges, educational links between the two cities, and greater awareness of both cities. As growth hubs in the sectors of health, life sciences, creative industries, tourism, financial services and the related knowledge economy.
The tournament returned in 2023 with the support of the Odyssey Trust, Hockey East, ECAC Hockey, and former Governor of Massachusetts and current President of the NCAA, Charlie Baker.
“First and foremost, I want to thank the Belfast Giants, the Odyssey Trust, the Hockey East Association, and ECAC Hockey for reigniting this experience for NCAA women’s ice hockey,” Matt Kelly told Providence women’s ice hockey. “I’ve heard nothing but great stories and memories from teams that have moved to Belfast in the past, and I’m looking forward to creating memories of our own that will last a lifetime.”
The Friendship Series is the first and only NCAA Division I women’s hockey tournament to be held outside of the United States, but its roots lie in Boston. The theme of friendship is more than just a tournament name. The event focuses on uniting communities across Northern Ireland by bringing a diverse group of young people from all social, economic and religious backgrounds together at one event. It strives to create lasting cultural, sporting and educational partnerships between Northern Ireland and America.
“We are very excited that ECAC Hockey will once again be participating in the Friendship Series with the Princeton women’s program facing Providence in January 2024 in Belfast, Northern Ireland,” said ECAC Hockey Commissioner Steve Haguel. “All of our previous events hosted by our friends in Belfast have been first class, providing lifelong memories for the student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans. We are certain that the 2024 Friendship Series will remain the same – a massive and memorable event for all involved.”
As a result of the agreement, discussions began with the City of Boston, Hockey East, and the ECAC about the possibility of hosting a tournament in Belfast. The City of Belfast specified that with its professional ice hockey team, the Giants, that hockey was the only sport in which people, regardless of religion or community background, would come together in a neutral setting, to cheer on the same team.
“We are so excited to travel to Belfast and show our game to international fans,” said Princeton women’s coach Kara Morey. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that most college hockey players don’t get to experience. At Princeton, we believe in education through athletics, and we’re excited to learn about the unique history and customs of Belfast residents. We’re also excited to play top-level college hockey as we take on Providence. This will be A highlight for many of our players as they make memories that will last a lifetime. We are grateful to ECAC and Princeton University for helping facilitate this amazing experience.”
The main focus of the Friendship Series is education, including educating young people through sports to create a spirit of mutual understanding, a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play; Explore the opportunities that education can provide, both in Northern Ireland and the USA through scholarships and placements; Education is linked to future job opportunities and economic success.
In parallel, the Friendship Chain initiative aims to focus on social inclusion – ensuring that youth and communities from disadvantaged rural and urban areas participate in education and have opportunities to identify relevant fields of study and potential future career paths.
More information and details about the Friendship Series ticketing will be announced in the coming months.