Friendship Four

Tournament Tickets Advisory Board News
2026 Friendship Four

Game Information Coming Soon

2026 Friendship Four

Game Information Coming Soon

Tournament News View All

Boston University Secure 2026 Friendship Series Title at The SSE Arena, Belfast

Jan 03, 2026

Miami University Win Friendship Four in Belfast

Nov 28, 2025

Get Ready for the 2025 Friendship Four

Nov 28, 2025

Meet the Teams: Friendship Four 2025

Nov 07, 2025

Boston University Secure 2026 Friendship Series Title at The SSE Arena, Belfast

Jan 03, 2026

Miami University Win Friendship Four in Belfast

Nov 28, 2025

Get Ready for the 2025 Friendship Four

Nov 28, 2025

Meet the Teams: Friendship Four 2025

Nov 07, 2025

2026, 2027 & 2028 Travel Packages

The Friendship Four will be returning to The SSE Arena, Belfast in 2026, 2027, and 2028, and you can register your interest in travel packages with Cara Group Travel.

2026: The University of Connecticut, Providence College, the University of Minnesota-Duluth & Colgate University.

2027: The University of North Dakota, Northeastern University, Quinnipiac University & the University of Wisconsin.

2028: The University of Notre Dame, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the University of Maine & Dartmouth College.

For more information about travel packages and to register interest, please click here.

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The Friends of the Friendship Four

Founded in 2024, the Friends of the Friendship Four Advisory Board is a new legacy committee dedicated to the growth and development of the Friendship Four ice hockey tournament, with a focus on growing relationships with collegiate ice hockey programmes across the United States.

Reporting to Robert Fitzpatrick, Chair of the Belfast Giants, and chaired by Martin McDowell, Chair of The Odyssey Trust, the Friends of the Friendship Four Advisory Board is comprised of eight members in total, who will meet twice a year – once in Boston and once at the annual Friendship Four tournament in Belfast.

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Robert Fitzpatrick, Chair of the Belfast Giants

Robert Fitzpatrick was appointed Chair of the Belfast Giants in April 2025, and has since built and developed strong relationships with colleagues in Boston.

Martin McDowell, Chair of The Odyssey Trust

Martin McDowell was appointed Chair of The Odyssey Trust in 2021, having been an external advisor for over 15 years before joining the Board. Martin has also served on the Board of the Royal Belfast Academical Institution for more than seven years.

Ralph Cox, Ambassador of the Friendship Four

Ralph Cox was a two-time All-American ice hockey player at the University of New Hampshire and went on to play professionally, having been picked 122nd overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1977 NHL Draft. Ralph is also a founding member and Principal of Redgate, with over 30 years of real estate experience.

Joe Bertagna, Former Commissioner of Hockey East

Joe Bertagna has spent over half a century in hockey as a player, coach, administrator, and journalist. A goaltender at Harvard University from 1969-73, Joe has spent 50 years coaching goaltenders, including six seasons with the Boston Bruins and with the 1994 U.S. Olympic Team.

Sarah Fraser, Deputy Director of Athletics at Quinnipiac University

Sarah Fraser was an All-American ice hockey player at Dartmouth College in 1998 and served on the U.S. National Team that won a silver medal in the 1999 World Championships.

Sara Stanton, Owner and Managing Director of Cara Group Travel

Sara Stanton is the Owner and Managing Director of New England-based tour operator, Cara Group Travel, which was established In 2012. Specialising in group travel to Europe, Cara Group Travel is the long-standing travel partner of the Friendship Four, helping visitors from North America with all their travel needs.

Steve Hagwell, Former Commissioner of the Eastern College Athletic Conference

Steve Hagwell was named Commissioner by the ECAC Hockey athletics administrator in March 2005 after serving in an acting role in April 2004. In his role, Steve oversaw the overall management and operation of ECAC Hockey, including but not limited to scheduling, finances, officiating, championships, and sponsorship.

Steve Thornton, Group Head of Commercial and Hockey at The Odyssey Trust

Having spent four years at Boston University, Steve Thornton joined the Belfast Giants as a player in 2002 before becoming a player-coach in 2007. From Canada, Steve has become The Trust’s Group Head of Commercial and Hockey, now proudly calling Northern Ireland home.