September 7, 2011

The Hyannis Youth and Community Center will host the 2012 WHEA Championship Tournament

Wakefield, Mass. -- The Women's Hockey East Association and the Town of Barnstable have announced that the league, now approaching on its 10th anniversary season, will host the 2012 Women's Hockey East Championship Tournament at the Hyannis Youth and Community Center (HYCC) on Saturday, March 3rd and Sunday, March 4th in the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Memorial Skating Rink, one of the twin sheets in the 105,000 sq. ft sports complex.

The Hockey East Tournament weekend will begin on Friday afternoon, as the Kennedy Rink hosts the four competing teams for a practice day. The semifinals will be held on Saturday, March 3rd with games at 12pm and 3pm. The winners of each semifinal will advance to the 10th annual Women's Hockey East Championship Game on Sunday, March 4th, which is tentatively scheduled for 12:30 pm. Tickets will go on sale at the HYCC Box Office and at box offices on the campuses of all eight member schools on Tuesday, November 1 at 8:30am. For more information visit www.hockeyeastonline.com as the on-sale date approaches for ticket prices and more information.

"We are excited about bringing our tenth women's championship to Cape Cod," said Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna. "The facility is terrific and the reception from the people with whom we have been meeting has been extremely encouraging. Our schools are looking forward to delivering our most successful championship yet."

"As we have seen in the past, the HYCC is a premier destination site for neutral site college hockey," said Barnstable's Assistant Town Manager Tom Lynch. "We are happy to work with Hockey East and the local business community to grow future opportunities and continue to provide a high level of play for members of the Cape Cod community to experience right here in our own backyard."

"As many businesses are beginning to recognize the impressive economic impact of events at the HYCC, it is important to note the breadth of accommodations and destination activities available to athletes throughout the year on Cape Cod," said Patti Lloyd, Vice President Sales at the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. "There is a buzz within the college athletic associations about what we are doing here, and everyone who has come to use the HYCC marvels about not only its architectural beauty but the enthusiasm and participation of the local fans as well."

The Women's Hockey East Association is an eight-team, Division-I college hockey conference which began play in 2002-2003, with offices based in Wakefield, Mass. Member schools include Boston College, Boston University, University of Connecticut, University of Maine, University of New Hampshire, Northeastern University, Providence College and University of Vermont. The league also sponsors a 10-team men's league which began play in 1984.

The Hyannis Youth & Community Center is a 105,000 square foot full service facility that includes two NHL regulation hockey rinks, a gymnasium with two full basketball courts and an elevated walking track, nine locker rooms, community meeting rooms and a 1,500 sq. ft. Teen Center with pool tables, arcade games and a computer lab. Ardeo's Restaurant operates the café and concessions in the building and the United Cultures Resource Room offers literature, materials and educational resources. The Lyndon P. Lorusso Youth Center offers affordable memberships (Barnstable Residents $20/year; Non-Residents $40/year) that include use of the walking track, computer lab, open gym time and after school programs. There are 2,500 families that reside within one mile of the HYCC which is just two blocks from historic Main Street and Hyannis Harbor. The mission of the HYCC is to provide state-of-the-art accessible facilities for a variety of recreational programs and special events, competitive sports organizations, after-school activities and opportunities for the community at large to foster educational excellence and physical growth across all generations.