From Tier I 12U girls experiencing their first taste of state championship action to Tier III 18U boys getting one last kick at the can, there’s no doubt that the talented hockey players are the stars of the show at the New York State Tournament.
An unsung heroes of the monthlong event are the fantastic facilities that play host to thousands of players and their families, who make the trek to Western New York to cap off a successful season in search of a state title and perhaps a ticket to a USA Hockey National Championship.
Here’s a stick tap to all those whose tireless efforts create pristine sheets of ice where some of the state’s top players can showcase their talents.
Northtown Center, Amherst
For the 21st year the Northtown Center in Amherst will serve as host for the N.Y. State Hockey Tournament.
Over the course of four weekends, starting Feb. 28 and running through March 23, more than 3,400 players and their families will converge on the Buffalo suburb to battle it out for state supremacy on the ice.
The event has proven to be a boom for the area as Amherst officials estimate that the economic impact on the area will exceed $6 million, with 8,300 hotel rooms booked over the course of the four weeks and local restaurants serving families and fans to such local delicacies as chicken wings and beef on weck sandwiches.
“Thanks to the hockey tournament, the tourism industry gets a big boost this time of year,” said Patrick Kaler, president and CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara and the Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission. “Our collaboration with the New York State Amateur Hockey Association is one of the keys to our region’s reputation as a destination for amateur sports.”
Over the course of four weekends, the Northtown Center is scheduled to host 204 games.
The first puck drops when top Youth/Girls 12 & Under and Youth 13 Only (Tier I) take the ice for three days of competitive hockey starting on Feb. 28 and running through March 2. Games will also take place at Cornerstone CFCU Arena in Lockport.
The following weekend of March 7-9 will feature the top girls’ teams in the state battling it out at the Tier I and Tier II 14U, 16U and 19U levels. Winners of their respective divisions will move on to compete at the USA Hockey National Championships. The Cornerstone CFCU Arena in Lockport is also slated to host games.
The boys take center stage March 14-16 when the puck drops on the Youth Tier I and Tier II 14U, 15O (Tier I), 16U and 18U divisions. Similar to the girls’ tournaments, champions in each division will have an opportunity to compete for a USA Hockey National Championship. Competition will be spread out over multiple ice sheets at the Northtown Center, Cornerstone CFCU Arena in Lockport and Dwyer Arena.
State competition concludes March 21-22 with champions crowned at the Youth Tier III 14U, 16U and 18U divisions. All games will take place at the Northtown Center.
“This tournament brings some of the best in hockey, competing for a state title, and the Northtown Center is ready for the non-stop action. It is going to be an extremely busy month for the center’s four ice pads,” said Eric Guzdek, president of NYSAHA and general manager of the Northtown Center.
SUNY Broome Community College Ice Center
Binghamton has long enjoyed a rich history when it comes to ice hockey. From the early 1970s when Jim Matthews led a team that brought the Broome County Dusters to town to the Binghamton Senators winning the AHL championship in 2011, hockey has carved out a special place in the hearts of the local community.
In between, the city was also home to the AHL affiliates of the Hartford Whalers and New York Rangers.
And now adding to that rich history, the New York State Tournament is coming to town for the first time when the SUNY Broome Community College Ice Center hosts the high school tournament.
This year’s competition features eight of the top high school teams from around the state facing off in a round-robin competition that gets under way on Feb. 28 and wraps up with the championship game on March 2.
In addition to hosting all the games at its beautiful 1,700-seat facility, SUNY Broome plans on rolling out the red carpet to welcome all the players and their families.
“The college is bending over backwards to support all the teams that we have coming in,” said Kirk Avery, Central Section president. “We are trying to make sure the gyms are open for teams to warm up, that we have all the medical facilities in place and the school’s broadcasting team will be collaborating with USA Hockey TV to broadcast all the games.”
Avery added that a push is on to have local TV stations come out for the first games and the championship games, and city websites and social media accounts are calling on local fans to come out to support the tournament.
In addition to its rich hockey heritage, Avery touted Binghamton’s central location, which will help teams traveling from all around the state to compete.
“If you drew a line from New York City to Buffalo, it’s about three hours to New York City and about three hours to Buffalo. It’s very centralized so people can come in for some of the tournaments that we might be able to hold,” Avery said.
“It gives [NYSAHA] another option and a very good venue or set of venues because we also have the arena that we can use where the professional team plays and in a centrally located area where people don’t have to drive as far. I’m sure everybody appreciates that, especially in late February or early March.”
Cornerstone CFCU Arena, Lockport
With its two NHL-sized rinks and seating for more than 600, the Cornerstone Arena in historic Lockport has been a perfect host for state tournament games since 2018.
With great sight lines and fantastic amenities that cater to parents and players, the facility has been a fantastic host since the puck dropped on the first state tournament game.
Like neighboring Amherst, the state tournament helps supports the Lockport economy with an infusion of an estimated $4.4 million to local businesses.
A total of 71 games, including several semifinal contests, will take place on Cornerstone ice.
Dwyer Arena, Niagara University
With a field of 56 boys’ teams competing in the Tier I and Tier II divisions, the need for extra ice to accommodate all the action has pressed Dwyer Arena on the campus of Niagara University into service.
The state-of-the-art two-sheet facility offers participants and their families a chance to experience life at a Div. I hockey program. The Purple Eagles compete in the American Hockey Association.
With 56 teams competing in the Youth Tier I and Tier II tournaments, 18 games will be played on Dwyer’s two sheets of ice.
Follow all the action at NYSAHA.com by clicking on the State Tournament Tab. There you can find standings, scores and statistics from every division. All games will be streamed on USAHockeyTV.com.