Axial3D Become Partner of 2025 Friendship Four in Celebration of Sports and Medical Innovation

To mark the 10th anniversary of the cross-Atlantic tournament, Axial3D has produced 3D-printed replicas of the original Belpot Trophy – ensuring each winning team can take home a commemorative piece of the competition. This unique contribution is set to honour the athletes competing in Belfast, ensuring that their achievements are recognised with a meaningful and lasting symbol.

Held at The SSE Arena, Belfast since its inception in 2015, the Friendship Four is the first and only National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 men’s ice hockey tournament to be played outside of North America. The two-day, four-game tournament is designed to promote education, social welfare, and community interaction, building on the sister cities agreement between Belfast and Boston.

Steve Thornton, Sports Director at The Odyssey Trust, said: “Reaching the 10-year milestone of the Friendship Four is a hugely proud moment for The Odyssey Trust. This tournament has become a defining experience for so many student-athletes, and thanks to Axial3D, we can now offer them a unique, personalised keepsake that celebrates both their accomplishments on the ice and the pride in our city.”

Axial3D, a Belfast-based AI-powered, 3D medical imaging company, is proud to sponsor this year’s Friendship Four, supporting an event that celebrates teamwork, innovation, and the spirit of Northern Ireland on a global stage. Axial3D specialises in transforming medical imaging data into precise patient specific models used by surgeons and medical device companies worldwide to personalise patient care. As 3D technology continues to shape the future of healthcare and sports medicine, Axial3D remains deeply committed to advancing healthcare innovation while investing in and supporting the growth of talent and opportunity here in Northern Ireland.

Roger Johnston, Chief Executive Officer of Axial3D, commented: “Through the Belfast Giants, we’re proud to see Belfast and Northern Ireland celebrated on a global stage with the Friendship Four. The Belfast Giants, since their inception, have epitomised everything that makes Belfast and Northern Ireland what they are. They make us all so proud of them, hence why Axial3D is so proud to be associated with this tournament."

The 2025 Friendship Four will take place on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 November at The SSE Arena, and will see the Rochester Institute of Technology, Sacred Heart University, Miami University, and Union College go head-to-head at the home of the Belfast Giants. Individual game tickets and weekend passes are on sale and available to purchase here.