Founded by The Odyssey Trust and held annually at The SSE Arena, Belfast, the Friendship Four and Friendship Series are the only NCAA Division One men’s and women’s ice hockey tournaments to be played outside of North America, and are designed to promote education, social welfare, and community interaction, building on the Sister City agreement between Belfast and Boston.

Reporting to Robert Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive Officer of The Odyssey Trust, and chaired by Martin McDowell, Chair of The Odyssey Trust, the Friends of the Friendship Four Advisory Board is comprised of six members in total, including Steve Thornton, Group Head of Commercial and Hockey at The Odyssey Trust; Sarah Fraser, Deputy Director of Athletics at Quinnipiac University, Joe Bertagna, former Commissioner of Hockey East; Steve Hagwell, former Commissioner of the ECAC; and Ralph Cox, Ambassador of the Friendship Four.

Robert Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive Officer of The Odyssey Trust, commented: “Creating unparalleled, unique opportunities for student-athletes to have a global experience is what underpins the Friendship Four. The implementation of the Friends of the Friendship Four Advisory Board provides a valuable opportunity to ensure that the impact of the tournaments reaches far beyond the ice; ensuring that ice hockey continues to be used as a powerful tool to educate young people and create a spirit of mutual understanding, friendship, solidarity, and fair play.”

Meeting twice a year – once in Boston and once at the annual Friendship Four tournament in Belfast – the Board is designed to advocate for the development of the Friendship Four, with a focus on growing relationships with collegiate hockey programmes across the United States.

Martin McDowell, Chair of The Odyssey Trust, said: “I am incredibly pleased to announce plans for the Friends of the Friendship Four Advisory Board. Ever since the Friendship Four’s inception in 2015, the tournament has gone from strength to strength – culminating in the introduction of the women’s Friendship Series tournament in 2019 – showcasing the importance of cross-Atlantic partnerships.

“The Friends of the Friendship Four Advisory Board will not only play a crucial role in the ongoing growth and development of both the Friendship Four and Friendship Series but will also help to establish Northern Ireland as a hub for innovation, collaboration, and inclusion.”

This announcement follows the release of ‘Ring the Bell!’, a brand-new book – co-authored by Robert Fitzpatrick and Joe Bertagna – that explores the history and growth of the Friendship Four. Chronicling the origins and impact of the Friendship Four, the book not only explores the 20 different NCAA universities that have taken part since the tournament’s inception in 2015, but also describes how the friendships formed have endured and developed.

This article was originally published on the Belfast Giants website.