This weekend, the Erie Sports Commission is excited to host a variety of events, including the Sarah Backstrom Memorial Girls Hockey Tournament, the Ice Chains Open and the Erie Sports Center Volleyball Tournament.
The 31st Annual Sarah Backstrom Memorial Girls Hockey Tournament, hosted by Lake Effect Hockey, will take place at the Erie Insurance Arena, Flo Fabrizio Ice Center, LECOM Sports Park and Mercyhurst University Ice Center. The tournament runs Friday through Monday, featuring 92 girls' teams with players aged nine to 19.
The Sarah Backstrom Tournament began as a small, grassroots event with the goal of promoting girls' hockey under the tutelage of Yvette Anderson, a longtime icon in the Erie hockey community. The tournament was renamed in honor of Sarah Backstrom, a former Erie Lady Lion hockey player who passed away from leukemia in 1999. Over time, the tournament expanded in both size and scope, drawing teams from across the country. Today, the tournament stands as a testament to the growth and popularity of girls' hockey, continuing to inspire and provide opportunities for young female athletes. A portion of the proceeds from this year’s tournament will be donated directly to the Mario Lemieux Foundation to support pediatric cancer research.
"We’re thrilled to host the 31st anniversary of the Sarah Backstrom Tournament,” said Jason Fowler, owner of Lake Effect Hockey. “The growth of girls’ hockey is incredible, and it’s amazing to see more than 90 teams making the trip to Erie from across the nation. This year, we are welcoming teams from as far as Colorado and Florida, with more than 80% of the teams coming from returning organizations. To watch this tournament expand from just under 100 participants seven years ago to more than 1600 today is nothing short of remarkable, and we’re proud to play a part in this extraordinary event honoring Sarah’s legacy."
For more information visit https://www.lakeeffecthockey.com/
This Saturday, the 4th annual Ice Chains Open will take place at Pleasant Ridge Park in Fairview, Pa., offering 10 divisions for participants to choose from. Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m., and the tournament begins at 11 a.m. The event will feature cash payouts for the top three finishers, and trophies will be awarded to the first-place winners.
For more information visit https://www.discgolfscene.com/tournaments/ICE_CHAINS_OPEN_FOUR_2025
Looking ahead, the Erie Sports Center will host the Ohio Valley Region’s 13 girls volleyball tournaments on Saturday and 17 girls volleyball tournament on Sunday. The tournament begins at 8 a.m. on both days, bringing together top teams from across the region to compete.
For more information visit https://www.eriesportscenter.com/
