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Date: 3/26/2015
WESTFIELD – Amelia Park Arena is proud to announce that it will host the 17th Annual New England Sled Hockey Invitational Tournament presented by Balise Toyota on April 17 to 19.
The tournament, taking place for the 13th time at Amelia Park Arena, will consist of adult and junior divisions competing throughout the weekend from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. April 17 and 18 and championship games April 19 from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Attendance to the tournament is free and will showcase over 200 athletes and coaches from eight states and Canada.
Past and present Paralympians will be among the participants. The Pioneer Valley will have two teams of their own participating, the Western Mass Knights (Intermediate Pool), and the Western Mass Jr. Knights (Recreational Pool). The Knights practice weekly at Amelia Park.
“This tournament is truly amazing and brings Westfield and the Pioneer Valley onto the international sports stage,” Carole Appleton, executive director of Amelia Park Ice Arena, said. “We are so proud to host these athletes, their families and friends once again at our facility.”
The weekend tournament not only includes competition by athletes but opportunities for fans to interact with the athletes as well. Informal meet and greets with athletes will take place each day. The rink fundraises during the year to cover all tournament and ice fees for the teams.
Sled hockey, or sledge hockey as it is known internationally, is a sport that was designed to allow participants who have a physical disability to play the game of ice hockey. Sled hockey was invented in the early 1960s in Stockholm, Sweden at a rehabilitation center. It is currently one of the most popular sports in the Paralympic Games.
Amelia Park Ice Arena is an ice arena/sports complex and memorial garden, financed by the late Westfield philanthropist Albert F. Ferst in memory of his wife Amelia.
The arena is located at 21 South Broad Street. The Albert & Amelia Ferst Operating Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit entity, was formed in 1998, with the expressed purpose of building a recreational facility and garden in her memory.