The Prescott Valley Events Center will play host to hockey for the first time in two years this December.
Four teams will participate in the tournament: Arizona State University, University of Connecticut, Brown University and St. Cloud State. The Second Annual event will kick off with the Sun Devils taking on Brown, Friday, December 30 at 7:30 PM.
At a Press Conference yesterday announcing the event, Sun Devils Hockey Head Coach Greg Powers explained,
“The thought process in going up to Prescott all started last summer when we went up there for the Sun Devil Caravan. There was a serious appetite from the alumni in Prescott to have us play a game or a series of games there,”
Continuing on Powers said, “We knew our club team was going to play NAU at the Prescott Valley Event Center last year, so I wanted to gauge the success of that experience. They drew over 3,500 people for the club game, proving it was a great opportunity for us to spread our brand throughout the state. It’s a great hockey town and great hockey tradition. They have a beautiful facility and feel it is a great opportunity to expose them to Division I college hockey with the Desert Hockey Classic.”
The Prescott Valley Events Center is actively looking for a new hockey tenant. Having lost its tenant with the departure of the Central Hockey League, they are now looking to land an ECHL team for 2017-2018. If location plays any part in how the arena actually lands a team, an ECHL franchise affiliate for a new NHL team in Las Vegas makes perfect sense.
Joe Hughes
