World-Class Youth Hockey Returns to Northern Virginia with the Toyota/USA Hockey Tier II U16 National Championships

Ashburn, VA – More than 700 of the best 15- and 16-year-old hockey players from across the country will descend upon Northern Virginia to compete in the Toyota/USA Hockey Tier II U16 National Championship, April 2 through April 6, 2014 at the twin rink Ashburn Ice House and SkateQuest Reston facilities. 

 The tournament – the fourth time the region has staged the USA Hockey Championships in the past five years – will showcase more than 40 teams representing nearly every state. Working alongside USA Hockey, Visit Loudoun will promote Loudoun County to all participants, visitors and staff to help ensure a memorable lifelong experience for the nearly 2,000 guests expected to attend.

Each team qualified for the national championships by having won their own respective league, state championships or qualifying tournaments. The teams will then be divided into three conference groups based on geographic location but each will play “across the board” to avoid facing the same teams they normally encounter.  Preliminary round games are scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with quarterfinals and semifinals on Saturday.  Three champions will be crowned on Sunday.   The final schedule will be announced shortly and will be available at www.usahockey.com.

 While the Ashburn Xtreme team often qualifies on their own merit, by virtue of hosting the event they will receive an automatic berth into the tournament. All other youth hockey clubs based in Maryland and Virginia will compete within their own states to determine their respective representatives and join the field alongside the Xtreme for a shot at the National Title.

All games will be open to the public with tickets available for purchase at both rinks throughout the course of the five-day tournament. Week-long tournament passes cost $35 (adults) or $25 (kids ages 5 to 12).  Single day passes are $15 (adults) and $7 (kids ages 5 to 12). Admission is free for children under the age of five.  For more information on the USA Hockey National Championships, please visit www.usahockey.com or contact Brian Bishop at 703-533-4830 or brian.bishop@aboutbwf.com.