Mentor Ice Arena Will Host Championship Hockey

will host some high-caliber, high-quality, high school hockey this spring.

Part of the USA Hockey Under 18 Tier II National Championships will be held in Mentor from March 29 to April 2.

The Gilmour Youth Hockey Association and Team Cleveland are hosting the weeklong competition, and one of the brackets will compete in Mentor. Cleveland has not hosted any part of the national championship since 1994.

Thirty-six high school teams from across the country will come to Cleveland to compete, and 12 will face off in Mentor's bracket.

Games will begin 8 a.m. that Wednesday and continue through Saturday afternoon. Then the championship game will be April 3 at Gilmour Academy.

Terri Rosenwald, the manager of Civic Ice Arena, said the arena will receive some sprucing up in anticipation of the tournament. She added that she wants to see how the city's rink compares to arenas from across the country.

"I'll be interested to see how we stack up against arenas from where these teams come from," she said. "I'm looking forward to that feedback."

Hockey fans will be able to buy day or event passes for the tournament at Mentor Civic Ice Arena. Ticket prices have not been set yet.

Rosenwald noted that the tournament isn't just a boon for local hockey fans. It will also help local hotels and retailers when the other teams come to town.

"It brings more visitors to the area, so we're glad it helps the local economy," she said.