Hockey in "July" begins on Friday

The ice is back at CONSOL Energy Center -- for what the Pittsburgh Penguins are calling “Hockey in July.”

“Hockey in July” is a full week of youth-oriented activities – including games and instructional clinics – created by the Penguins to coincide with the team’s annual prospects camp.

The youth hockey events begin Friday, July 8 with the first day of a two-day, 32-game mite tournament for players with a 2003 birth year or younger (the tournament and clinics are already sold out).

This Mite American Development Model (ADM) tournament will feature 16 games on Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 16 games on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The teams play cross-ice to maximize their ice time.

A series of one-day youth clinics will start on Monday and run through next Friday.

“With ice being available because of our annual prospects camp, we thought it was a great opportunity to host a tournament and hold some instructional clinics for local youth hockey players,” said David Morehouse, CEO and president of the Penguins. “We’ll literally have youth hockey games all day on Friday and Saturday.”

Meanwhile, players participating in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ annual prospect camp will arrive in town on Monday and take part in both on-ice and off-ice activities Tuesday through Saturday.