National hockey championship hits the ice today
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Young hockey players from around the country will take to the Pepsi Center ice this weekend in hopes of championship glory.

It's been two years since Amherst was awarded the bid to host the 2007 National USA Hockey Youth Championships, and the event kicks off today with preliminary games in the Pepsi Center beginning at 8 a.m. and the opening ceremony at Alumni Arena at the University at Buffalo's North Campus.

"It's an honor that USA Hockey would even consider our facility," Pepsi Center general manager Erik Guzdek said. "This is national exposure for the Pepsi Center."

The Amherst Pepsi Center is host to the 12 and younger, and 14 and younger (tiers I and II) competition. Teams from Arizona to Connecticut, and Alaska to Los Angeles have been arriving throughout the week - generating an estimated revenue of $800,000 in hotel bills alone.

The overall minimum economic impact is expected at $2 million for the five-day event. Ice time will total more than $40,000.

Guzdek said the games will be played by 48 teams, approximately 950 athletes, with the semifinal games being played on Saturday and the championship games taking place on the feature rink on Sunday.

Amherst's own Knights will have teams playing in each age bracket at the tier I level. Guzdek said Amherst Youth Hockey is one of the largest organizations of its kind in the country, and this will be a great opportunity for the teams playing and the organization.

All day today, Wednesday, the Stanley Cup will be on display in the lobby of the Pepsi Center, 1615 Amherst Manor Drive. It will also be available for viewing during the opening ceremony in Alumni Arena at 8:30 p.m.

The Easton Skills Competition will be held at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 29 on the feature rink.

Robert Schreck, president of Amherst Youth Hockey, said bringing the national competition to Amherst was a huge endeavor, beginning with the pitch made two years ago in Colorado. Described as a mini-Olympic pitch, Amherst's request was well received, and the tournament is placing Amherst on the hockey map.

"The Pepsi Center is a jewel … it's well known," he said.

The Pepsi Center has already been named a site for the 2008 championships. Last year the center was host to the girl's and women's championships.

This is the first year USA Hockey is using "super sites," which, Guzdek said involves hosting four championship games. In the past, each city hosted one tier in one age group.

USA Hockey has yet to determine how the 2009 championships will be run, which will affect Amherst's bidding process.

For information on weekend events, call 631-7555. For information on USA Hockey, visit www.usahockey.com or www. amherstyouthhockey. org. Tickets are available at the Pepsi Center.