The Odyssey Trust has confirmed the teams that will compete in the 2026, 2027, and 2028 Friendship Four tournaments, as Belfast prepares to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the NCAA Division I ice hockey showcase.
The announcement was made at the Massachusetts State House in Boston, underlining the transatlantic roots of the event, which was founded in 2015 to build on the Sister Cities agreement between Belfast and Boston.
The 2026 tournament will feature the University of Connecticut, Providence College, the University of Minnesota Duluth, and Colgate University.
In 2027, Northeastern University, Quinnipiac University, the University of North Dakota, and the University of Wisconsin will compete.
The 2028 edition will bring the University of Notre Dame, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Dartmouth College, and the University of Maine to Belfast.
“Reaching the 10th anniversary of the Friendship Four is a remarkable achievement and a celebration of everything the tournament has come to represent,” said Steve Thornton, Sports Director at The Odyssey Trust.
“As we look to the future, we are thrilled to confirm three outstanding lineups for 2026, 2027, and 2028, which promise to deliver more unforgettable hockey memories at The SSE Arena.”
The Friendship Four remains the only NCAA Division I ice hockey tournament held outside North America. Each year, it brings top U.S. college teams to Belfast, with games at The SSE Arena becoming a fixture in the local sporting calendar.
The event was established to promote education, cultural exchange, and community engagement, while also strengthening economic and social links between Belfast and Boston.
Over the past decade, it has connected U.S. institutions with local schools and community groups, giving Belfast audiences rare access to elite-level hockey.
“The Friendship Four began as an ambitious idea and has grown into an event that embodies the values of friendship, learning, and international collaboration,” added Martin McDowell, Chair of The Odyssey Trust.
“We are incredibly proud of the impact it has made in Belfast and beyond over the past decade, from building relationships with U.S. institutions to providing local communities with access to top-level sport.”
The Friendship Four will return to Belfast in November 2025, with Rochester Institute of Technology, Sacred Heart University, Miami University, and Union College confirmed to compete.
The Women’s Friendship Series will follow in January 2026, with Boston University, Harvard University, Quinnipiac University, and the University of Minnesota Duluth participating.
Image Credit: Odyssey Trust
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