From the Macon Mayhem:
The Macon Mayhem, in conjunction with Visit Macon, Spectra, and the SECHC (South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference), announced Wednesday the foundation of the Macon Veterans Cup.
The Macon Veterans Cup will be an annual club hockey tournament hosted on Veteran’s Day Weekend to commemorate all who have served in the armed forces. The inaugural tournament will be held on November 12th and 13th of this year. The club hockey teams of Auburn University, Florida State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Georgia will participate in the inaugural Macon Veterans Cup.
“We are delighted to host the Macon Veterans Cup,” said Mayhem President Blair Floyd. “It’s been an idea we’ve been passionate about for a while so to see it become a reality is surreal. Growing the sport of hockey in the south is one of our core goals as an organization so partnering with the SECHC, Spectra, and Visit Macon to host a collegiate club hockey tournament was a no brainer for us.”
“All of the troubles in the world right now definitely serve as a solemn reminder of how blessed we are to have people willing to sacrifice so much so that we may enjoy our many freedoms,” continued Floyd. “With it being Veteran’s Day Weekend, we wanted to appreciate those who have served and couldn’t think of a better way than hosting the Macon Veterans Cup and our annual Military Appreciation Weekend in a fantastic weekend of hockey.”
Friday, November 12th will see the first matchups of the competition as Georgia Tech takes on Auburn while UGA will face off against FSU. Saturday, November 13th will see the conclusion of the tournament as Auburn will matchup against FSU while Georgia Tech and Georgia renew their rivalry with some clean, old-fashioned hate.
The team with the best win-loss record at the end of the tournament will be crowned the winners of the Macon Veterans Cup. In the event of a tie in win-loss percentage, the winner will be chosen based upon a number of tiebreakers such as head to head matchups or “goals against”.
The tournament will be conducted under the rules of the Collegiate Hockey Federation and operate under the supervision of the South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference.
“I am thrilled to have four of our member teams participating in the first ever Macon Veteran’s Cup,” said SECHC Commissioner Sarge Day. “The University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida State University and Auburn University club teams are excited about the opportunity to play SECHC games at the Macon Coliseum. Our players, coaches, fans, and staff are also excited to participate in this wonderful event to recognize and honor our outstanding Veterans of America’s Armed Forces. As a retired 30-year career soldier of the US Army, there is no place in America where I’d rather be than in Macon, Georgia during this outstanding weekend of college and Mayhem hockey while honoring our troops. On behalf of the SECHC, thank you to the Mayhem and the great citizens of Macon for your support of hockey in the south!”
The Macon Veterans Cup is expected to bring a positive economic impact to the city of Macon as the teams and fans travel to the city. Hotels, stores, and local restaurants should also see positive impact with increased bookings and foot traffic in downtown Macon.
“Visit Macon is excited to partner with Spectra, the Macon Mayhem, and the University of Georgia Hockey Club to bring exciting college hockey to the Macon Coliseum,” said Visit Macon President Gary Wheat. “This event is extra special as it will be a Macon Veterans Cup event recognizing the men and women who have served our country. This will be a wonderful opportunity for the Macon-Bibb community to recognize our veterans as well as cheer on their Georgia Bulldogs. The event serves as another example of community partners working together for the growth of Macon-Bibb.”
The Macon Veterans Cup would not be possible without the tremendous support from Spectra. Spectra is the company that manages the Macon Coliseum and Macon City Auditorium and is vital to the continuation and growth of hockey in Middle Georgia.
“Spectra looks forward to a deeper partnership with the Macon Mayhem and the addition of UGA Hockey Club for this inaugural Macon Veterans Cup in November,” said Spectra General Manager David Aiello. “Having a hometown hockey team makes Macon unique and adds to the quality of our community. With this tournament, we can engage even more of our community members who have ties to the Georgia Bulldogs, those with a love of the sport of hockey, and truly appreciate our service men and women here in Middle Georgia.”
More information regarding the tournament will be released leading up to the first ever Macon Veterans Cup including details regarding tickets. All matchups and tournament rules are subject to change. For more information on the Macon Veterans Cup or the Macon Mayhem, visit www.maconmayhem.com,www.maconcentreplex.org, or call the Mayhem front office at (478) 803-1592. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates.