College Ice Hockey is returning to Belfast with the Odyssey Trust hosting the Friendship Four men’s college ice hockey tournament once more in November 2024.

Held annually in Belfast since 2015, the Friendship Four is designed to promote education, social welfare, and community interaction, building on the sister cities agreement between Belfast and Boston, which was signed a decade ago.

Having seen a total of 24 games played across six tournaments, Northern Ireland remains the only destination outside of the United States to host consequential NCAA Division One ice hockey games.

Harvard University, Boston University, Merrimack College, and the University of Notre Dame will compete for the coveted Belpot Trophy in November next year.

“I am proud to announce that the Friendship Four will be taking place in 2024,” said Robert Fitzpatrick, chief executive officer of The Odyssey Trust.

“Creating opportunities for student-athletes to have a global experience is incredibly important and something that underpins the tournament. The significance of the games reaches far beyond the ice, providing a unique opportunity to use sport as a tool to educate young people and create a spirit of mutual understanding, friendship, solidarity, and fair play.”

The news follows the announcement that the women’s Friendship Series will be returning to The SSE Arena, Belfast for the first time since the 2019/20 season, with a two-game series set to take place between Princeton University and Providence College across Friday 5 and Saturday 6 January 2024.