Friendship Four

Tournament Tickets Science & Discovery Month Sponsors PER4MANCE Advisory Board News
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Game Tickets On Sale Now!

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DON'T MISS OUT!

Game Tickets On Sale Now!

Purchase Here Purchase Here
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Check out the Teams!

The Friendship Four returns to The SSE Arena, Belfast on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 November 2024 when the University of Notre Dame, Boston University, Harvard University, and Merrimack College go head-to-head for the Belpot Trophy at the home of the Belfast Giants!

Ring the Bell!

Co-authored by Robert Fitzpatrick and Joe Bertagna, ‘Ring the Bell!’ is a brand-new book that explores the history and growth of the Friendship Four college ice hockey tournament. Chronicling the origins and impact of the Friendship Four, which has produced no less than 13 Belfast Giants, the book not only explores the 20 different NCAA universities that have taken part, but also describes how the friendships formed have endured and developed.
Available Now

Individual Tickets & Weekend Passes On Sale Now

Friday 29 November

Boston University vs Merrimack College – 2pm

The University of Notre Dame vs Harvard University – 7pm

Saturday 30 November 2024

Third Place Playoff Game – 3pm

Championship Game – 7pm

Individual Tickets & Weekend Passes Available HERE!


Travel Packages

Cara Group Travel continue its long-running partnership with the Friendship Four and Friendship Series to help visitors from North America with their travel needs for the tournament.

Be part of the action and join thousands of fans descending into Belfast in 2024. The Friendship Series (January 2024) and Friendship Four (November 2024) promises high-energy on-ice action and fierce competition between top NCAA men's and women's ice hockey teams!

Don't miss out on the action in Northern Ireland with Cara Group's travel packages for the Friendship Series and Friendship Four.

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Individual Tickets & Weekend Passes Available Now

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Science & Discovery Month

Throughout November, the annual Science & Discovery Month takes place across W5 and W5 LIFE. The month-long series of workshops, shows, and events will promote and celebrate innovation and discovery in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Friendship Four 2024 Sponsors & Partners

Gold Partnership

Includes: Title sponsorship, company branding on eight rink boards, luxury suite for up to 40 people for the two days of the tournament & 100 complimentary tickets.
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Silver Partnership

Includes: Company branding on four rink boards, luxury suite for up to 16 people for the two days of the tournament & 50 complimentary tickets.
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Bronze Partnership

Includes: Company branding on two rink boards, luxury suite for up to 16 people for the first day of the tournament & 25 complimentary tickets.
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Hospitality

Includes: Luxury suite for up to 16 people for the two days of the tournament, access to a private bar & an extensive food and drink menu.
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Full Sponsorship & Hospitality Menu

For more information about our range of sponsorship and hospitality options, download the full menu below.

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What is PER4MANCE?

Taking place on Friday 29 November, before the opening game of the Friendship Four, PER4MANCE is The Odyssey Trust’s new sports performance conference.

Set to be hosted at W5, Northern Ireland’s award-winning science and discovery centre, PER4MANCE will bring together experts, innovators, and elite performers from across professional sports.

PER4MANCE will aim to provide practical insights into the ever-changing landscape of elite-level performance and is expected to attract a diverse audience, including sports professionals, tech startups, and industry-leading experts.

Take a look at some of this year's guest speakers below.

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Pierre McGuire - Former Stanley Cup Winning Coach & NBC Broadcaster

Pierre is one of the biggest names in global ice hockey. A truly unique career has seen him reach the pinnacle of his sport by winning two Stanley Cups as a coach. His leadership journey then took him into General Management of some of the biggest NHL clubs in the USA and Canada after which he became and award-winning broadcaster with NBC Sports. Pierre also served as Senior Vice President of Player Development for the Ottawa Senators and has worked closely with many of the most successful athletes in American sports.

Michael O'Neill MBE - Northern Ireland Senior Men’s Football Manager

Michael is currently in his second spell as national team manager having guided the Northern Ireland men's football team to its first major tournament in 30 years back in 2016. Having left to join EFL side, Stoke City in 2019, he returned to Northern Ireland in 2022 to oversee a transition of players with the current side boasting youth and excitement with players like Conor Bradley, Shea Charles and Issaac Price making bringing a wave of optimism back to the side.

Professor Cathy Craig - CEO of Incisiv & World-Leader in Performance Psychology

Cathy is a globally renowned expert in movement science, who has founded a Belfast-born company focused on using VR to help humans perform better. With over 20 years' research experience and 90+ research publications, she is pioneering the development of a deep tech platform that combines immersive technology and analytics to improve performance in sport. The first product using this cutting-edge technology is CleanSheet - designed specifically to help goalkeepers make better split second decisions.

Michaela & Aidan Walsh - Commonwealth Champion Siblings

The Walsh siblings are the first brother and sister to box at the same Olympic Games when they competed in Tokyo and again in Paris earlier this year. Hailing from Belfast Michaela and Aidan produced another incredible day for their family, club and city when they both won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The pair are a testament of the power of family and community, and are a beacon of hope for aspiring athletes to push through the hard times, and remain balanced in pursuit of their dreams.

Paul McKernan - Managing Director of STATSports

Paul heads up a Newry-based company that has grown to become the world-leading provider of GPS player tracking and analysis equipment with offices in Ireland, London and Chicago. Its clients include Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd and Spurs as well as the Belgian, USA and English football associations. Teams in GAA, Rugby Union, NFL, and Hockey also use the company’s APEX units to help drive improved performance. Recognised as the most advanced wearable tech on the market, STATSports allows everyone to track and analyse their performance like a professional.

Thomas Niblock - Award-Winning Sports Presenter, Filmmaker & Podcast Host

Thomas been working full-time in media for almost 20 years. Starting at ITV, Sky Sports and more recently BBC. He’s worked at some of the globe's biggest sports events and is a familiar face on our television screens. He’s an in-demand event host and runs his own successful production company. Thomas will be hosting this year’s PER4MANCE Summit.

Sue Ronan - Female Football Leader & FIFA Consultant

Susan Ronan is an Irish football coach and former player, who knows the game from every level having played on the streets of Crumlin, represented Ireland at International Level and then managed the Senior International team from 2010 to 2016. Sue is now a Women's Football Technical Consultant with FIFA and one of the most influential women in female football.

Individual Tickets and Packages Available Now

Purchase Here

The Friends of the Friendship Four

Founded in 2024, the Friends of the Friendship Four Advisory Board is a new legacy committee dedicated to the growth and development of the Friendship Four ice hockey tournament, with a focus on growing relationships with collegiate ice hockey programmes across the United States.

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 eight members in total, who will meet twice a year – once in Boston and once at the annual Friendship Four tournament in Belfast.

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Robert Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive Officer of The Odyssey Trust

Robert Fitzpatrick was appointed Chief Executive Officer of The Odyssey Trust Company Ltd (OTC) in 2007 and has since built and developed strong relationships with colleagues in Boston.

Martin McDowell, Chair of The Odyssey Trust

Martin McDowell was appointed Chair of The Odyssey Trust in 2021, having been an external advisor for over 15 years before joining the Board. Martin has also served on the Board of the Royal Belfast Academical Institution for more than seven years.

Ralph Cox, Ambassador of the Friendship Four

Ralph Cox was a two-time All-American ice hockey player at the University of New Hampshire and went on to play professionally, having been picked 122nd overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1977 NHL Draft. Ralph is also a founding member and Principal of Redgate, with over 30 years of real estate experience.

Joe Bertagna, Former Commissioner of Hockey East

Joe Bertagna has spent over half a century in hockey as a player, coach, administrator, and journalist. A goaltender at Harvard University from 1969-73, Joe has spent 50 years coaching goaltenders, including six seasons with the Boston Bruins and with the 1994 U.S. Olympic Team.

Sarah Fraser, Deputy Director of Athletics at Quinnipiac University

Sarah Fraser was an All-American ice hockey player at Dartmouth College in 1998 and served on the U.S. National Team that won a silver medal in the 1999 World Championships.

Sara Stanton, Owner and Managing Director of Cara Group Travel

Sara Stanton is the Owner and Managing Director of New England-based tour operator, Cara Group Travel, which was established In 2012. Specialising in group travel to Europe, Cara Group Travel is the long-standing travel partner of the Friendship Four, helping visitors from North America with all their travel needs.

Steve Hagwell, Former Commissioner of the Eastern College Athletic Conference

Steve Hagwell was named Commissioner by the ECAC Hockey athletics administrator in March 2005 after serving in an acting role in April 2004. In his role, Steve oversaw the overall management and operation of ECAC Hockey, including but not limited to scheduling, finances, officiating, championships, and sponsorship.

Steve Thornton, Group Head of Commercial and Hockey at The Odyssey Trust

Having spent four years at Boston University, Steve Thornton joined the Belfast Giants as a player in 2002 before becoming a player-coach in 2007. From Canada, Steve has become The Trust’s Group Head of Commercial and Hockey, now proudly calling Northern Ireland home.