The DuPage County Convention and Visitors Bureau is partnering with Laguna Hills, California-based OneHockey to bring youth hockey tournaments to DuPage County, which is located 20 miles west of Chicago.
Beginning on Thanksgiving weekend 2017, OneHockey’s competitions will take place at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville, the twin-sheet home of the NCAA Division I Robert Morris men’s and women’s hockey programs. That tournament will span four days (Nov. 23-26) and will feature boys and girls competing at AA and A levels (ages range from squirts through U18).
Three additional five-game guaranteed tournaments will also highlight the OneHockey calendar next season at the 3,000-seat multipurpose arena, including tournaments during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents Day holiday weekends. OneHockey will also host an offseason tournament April 28-30 at the arena.
The first tournament of 2018 takes place from Jan. 12-15 and features level A boys action. The next tournament (Feb. 16-19) is level AAA and will consist of both boys and girls. The third 2018 tourney in April will showcase boys AAA Elite and AAA-level competition (boys competitions feature all ages while girls U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 and U19 will compete).
“On behalf of DuPage County, the Village of Bensenville and the Edge Ice Arena, we thank OneHockey for their partnership and enthusiasm in creating memorable events for their teams and players,” said Justin Roach, director of sales for the DuPage Convention and Visitors Bureau. “This partnership represents an estimated $9 million in economic impact adding to the already existing $2.5 billion DuPage travel and tourism industry. We look forward to the opportunity to showcase our great communities and demonstrate why DuPage is a perfect home for OneHockey events.”
“This partnership is huge for us,” said Sebastien Fortier, OneHockey chief executive officer. “We have a following from hundreds of Illinois teams and many that already attend our Minnesota Gone Wild tournament every MLK weekend. Now some of them can experience a OneHockey event locally as well. DuPage County is a perfect partner for OneHockey and a perfect place for our families to play and explore.”
DuPage County lays claim to several cultural and historical exhibits, scenic open spaces and performing arts facilities. Found within the 39-community county are the Addison Historical Museum and the DuPage County Trail system for cyclists, hikers and runners.
Since 2003, OneHockey has been hosting organized, competitive ice hockey tournaments in North America. The organization is best known for hosting AAA boys hockey tournaments but has also added AA, A and B level tournaments to its fold along with girls divisions.
“With our new Central States Hockey League tournament in Illinois, OneHockey needs no more introduction to the Midwest youth hockey teams,” said Fortier, referring to an annual league showcase event scheduled for Chicago in September. “But without tremendous support from the DuPage County Visitors Bureau, these four additional events would not be possible.”
