Erie to Host Basketball, Hockey, Powerlifting Competitions this Weekend

Erie’s versatility will be on full display this weekend as it plays host to two national college club basketball championships, an adult hockey tournament and a regional powerlifting championship.

The National College Club Basketball Association will host its Men’s and Women’s National Championships concurrently Friday-Sunday, with the men’s tournament playing out at Gannon University’s Highmark Events Center and the women’s tournament taking place at Mercyhurst University’s Athletic Center. The Rob Banks Memorial Adult Hockey Tournament will also take place this weekend at ERIEBANK Sports Park, starting on Friday and playing through Sunday. On Saturday, the Great Lakes Powerlifting Championship will take place at the Perry Hi-Way Hose Company.

“Erie as a city has something for everyone, and this weekend is a perfect example,” Erie Sports Commission Executive Director Mark Jeanneret said. “It’s great to see so many of our venues being utilized, and demonstrating that Erie is capable of hosting sporting events of any size or sort.”

The NCBBA Men’s National Championship will feature college club teams from Purdue, Penn State, East Carolina, Towson, Bryant, Boston College, Notre Dame and Radford. The first game will tip-off at noon on Friday, while the semifinal round will begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday. The national championship will be played at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The women’s tournament will see college club teams from Penn State, Boston College, Syracuse, Kennesaw State, Ohio State, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Northeastern and SUNY Cortland. Start times will be the same as for the men’s tournament. Tickets will be available at the door. Tickets for adults will be $6, with discounted tickets available for students for $5 and children 12 years and younger for $4.

The inaugural Rob Banks Memorial Adult Hockey Tournament will begin Friday night at ERIEBANK Sports Park, with games taking place all day Saturday and the tournament finals taking place Sunday afternoon. Proceeds from the tournament will go towards pancreatic cancer research.

Nearly 60 powerlifters representing three states will be on hand for the Great Lakes Powerlifting Championships. Competitors will take part in powerlifting, bench press and deadlift events. The lifting will begin at 9 a.m.

For more information on each of these events, visit https://www.eriesportscommission.com/events/.