PORTLAND, Maine – The 2015 Ice Breaker Tournament, the traditional start to the college hockey season, is set for Oct. 9 and 10 at the Cross Insurance Ice Arena in Portland, Maine. Ice Breaker Tournament, presented by Gorham Savings Bank, will feature Maine, North Dakota, Michigan State and Lake Superior State. Learfield Sports represents Maine Athletics through its Black Bear Sports Properties entity.
College Hockey Inc., which manages the event on behalf of the Hockey Commissioners Association, will partner with the University of Maine to host the 19th annual event.
“This field and this venue provide an outstanding setting to celebrate the start of the 2015-16 season,” said Mike Snee, Executive Director of College Hockey, Inc. “The great college hockey fans in Maine and fans who travel for the Ice Breaker will be treated to terrific games featuring some of the most successful programs in our sport’s history.”
Maine will face Michigan State on Friday at 8 PM, with North Dakota playing Lake Superior State in the first game at 4:30 PM. On Saturday, Oct. 10, Maine will face North Dakota at 8 PM, with Michigan State and Lake Superior State playing the opening game.
“The Ice Breaker Tournament signals the beginning of the college hockey season by showcasing some of the Nation’s premier College Hockey Programs,” said Maine head coach Red Gendron. “This year the University of Maine is delighted to be hosting this prestigious event welcoming Michigan State University, the University of North Dakota, and Lake Superior State University. The great State of Maine and all her citizens, the City of Portland, and the Cross Insurance Arena will provide the visiting schools and all Maine Hockey Fans with an extraordinary experience. The Hockey will be fast, furious, and entertaining for all who play and for all who attend. I look forward to seeing you all October 9th and 10th at the Cross Insurance Arena.”
This will mark Maine’s fourth appearance in the Ice Breaker. The Black Bears hosted the tournament in 2001 with appearances in 2005 and 2012.
“Discussion of the Ice Breaker Tournament coming to the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland began over a year ago with former GM Steve Crane. We are pleased that Global Spectrum has been able to put the pieces together to make this tournament a reality for the Greater Portland region. This premier hockey tournament will allow Global Spectrum and the Board of Trustees to showcase the newly renovated Cross Insurance Arena to a national audience. We hope this event will lead to an even closer relationship between University of Maine and the Cross Insurance Arena,” stated Dale Olmstead, Compliance Manager for Cross Insurance Arena.
Tickets for the Ice Breaker will go on sale to the public on Sunday, June 7th via Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000. A single-session ticket (2 games) will be $25, and the Gorham Savings Bank Power Play Pack (all 4 games) will be $45. Maine Hockey Season Ticket Holders will receive the first option to purchase tickets for this special event. Season ticket holders have been mailed a presale code to be able to purchase tickets to the Ice Breaker, immediately providing our valued Season Ticket Holders the limited opportunity to select their preferred seats.
North Dakota participated in the 2015 Frozen Four, finishing a year ago with a mark of 29-10-3. North Dakota plays in the National College Hockey Association and returns five of its top seven scorers. Maine and North Dakota have met 22 times with North Dakota leading 12-8-2.
Michigan State compiled a mark of 17-16-2 in the Big Ten this past season. The Spartans return eight of their top 11 scorers from last season and Jake Hildebrand who played in all 35 games in goal. The roster also includes Travis Walsh, son of late Maine head coach Shawn Walsh, who recently received the team’s outstanding defensive award for the 2015 season. Michigan State leads the all-time series 11-5-2.
Lake Superior State holds a prominent place in Maine athletics history. The Black Bears defeated the Lakers in 1993 en route to their first NCAA Championship. Maine and LSSU have met 10 times with the Black Bears holding a 6-3-1 lead in the all-time series. Lake Superior State plays in the WCHA. The Lakers return 13 of their top 15 scorers from a year ago and all of its minutes in goal.
Global Spectrum (global-spectrum.com) manages more than 125 other public assembly facilities around the world. Nearly 24-million people attended more than 15,000 events in Global Spectrum venues last year. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Global Spectrum is part of Comcast-Spectacor, one of the world’s largest sports and entertainment companies. Comcast-Spectacor, which operates in 48 of the 50 United States, also owns the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services provider, Paciolan, the leading provider of venue establishment ticketing, fundraising and marketing technology solutions, Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company, and Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community ice skating rinks