The Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) announced today that the annual Ice Breaker Tournament, the season-opening event involving teams from four NCAA Division I conferences, has been awarded for the years 2010 through 2012. The 2010 and 2011 events will take place at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, site of the 2007 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championships. The 2012 tournament will take place in the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri, a state of the art arena that opened in October of 2007.

“We are very excited at the prospect of bringing our event to these outstanding venues,” said CCHA Commissioner Tom Anastos, President of the HCA. “We know that the commitments made by the two sports commissions will ensure a successful event and an appropriate launch to the 2010-2012 college hockey seasons.”

The St. Louis Sports Commission, the group awarded the first back-to-back events, is the privately funded nonprofit organization that focuses on attracting, creating and managing major sporting events for the St. Louis region – and contributing to its quality of life. The organization plays an integral role in hosting NCAA championships and other high profile collegiate sporting events that take place in the community. In the past decade, the Sports Commission helped produce 10 NCAA Division I championships, including the Frozen Four. The organization also represents St. Louis in the NCAA’s new Championship City pilot program, which features multiple host opportunities of Division I, II and III men’s and women’s championships through 2012. St. Louis is one of six cities designated as an NCAA “Championship City.”

“St. Louis is honored to host the 2010 and 2011 Ice Breaker Tournaments,” said St. Louis Sports Commission President Frank Viverito. “We were thrilled to host the NCAA Frozen Four two years ago, and that opportunity opened the door to developing greater interest and exposure for college hockey in our community and throughout the Midwest. Being able to host two Ice Breakers along with the previously awarded 2011 Men’s Ice Hockey West Regional further raises the profile of college hockey in St. Louis and helps grow participation and passion for the sport. We salute Scottrade Center and the St. Louis Blues for their commitment to the Ice Breaker and to college hockey.”

St. Louis has been a two-time host of the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four. The event took place at the St. Louis Arena in 1975 and Scottrade Center in 2007, where the all-time attendance record was set when 19,432 watched Michigan State defeat Boston College for the NCAA title.

The Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation is the organization awarded the 2012 tournament. The Kansas City Sports Commission is a privately funded nonprofit organization that benefits Kansas City through sports. Its mission is to enhance the economic development and quality of life of greater Kansas City through sports and promote the lifelong benefits of sports for youth.

“The Ice Breaker Tournament is a great event that provides Kansas City an opportunity to show off our passion for college hockey. It is an honor for the Kansas City Sports Commission to be awarded this tournament,” said Cindy Smith, national events director of the nonprofit organization.

In just 17 months of operation, the Sprint Center has already hosted the Big 12 Basketball Championships, NCAA men’s basketball first and second rounds, the NABC’s “College Basketball Experience,” and an NHL pre-season game. The facility has also been awarded an NCAA women’s basketball regional and the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship for 2010.

The Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) represents the nation’s six NCAA Division I ice hockey playing conferences. The HCA has sponsored the Ice Breaker Tournament since its inception in 1997 with 28 different schools participating in the12 years of play. The 2009 Ice Breaker was previously awarded to the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

The conferences and their commissioners are: Bob DeGregorio, Commissioner, Atlantic Hockey Association; Tom Anastos, Commissioner, Central Collegiate Hockey Association; Ed McLaughlin, Athletic Director at Niagara University, Interim Commissioner for College Hockey America; Steve Hagwell, Commissioner, ECAC Hockey; Joe Bertagna, Commissioner, Hockey East Association; and Bruce McLeod, Commissioner, Western Collegiate Hockey Association.